The Latin word frivolous means “silly,” “empty,” or “trifling,” and is the source of the English adjective frivolous. A back-formation from frivolous, the lesser-known English verb frivol, means “to do something unimportant,” or “to waste time,” or “to squander.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Frivol and Frivolous”
The Latin word frivolous means silly, empty, trifling, sorry, worthless, pitiful, and of course that gives us the word frivolous in English. But what I didn’t realize until recently was that there’s also a verb form. It’s a back formation from frivolous, and it’s frivol, f-r-i-v-o-l.
To frivol means to do something unimportant or frivolous or to waste time or squander. Interesting.
So how would I say that I’m frivoling? What would be a frivol task? Exactly.
Well, you’re just maybe you’re doom scrolling on Twitter when you’re waiting in line or something like that. Right.
What’s today’s worst news? Let me see if I can beat that other story.
Oh, look, a train crash. Maybe that’s today’s worst news. Right.
That’s terrible. Yeah, or you’re just rearranging things on the table or, you know. Right.
You’re frivoling. Your own personal version of the deck chairs on the Titanic. Something like that.
Yeah, when you’re supposed to be working, but instead you’re reorganizing the pencils in the mug next to your computer. Yes, yes.
Or just going on Facebook one more time or something like that. Frivoling.
