Trifling

  • 91Petty officer — Petty Pet ty, a. [Compar. {Pettier}; superl. {Pettiest}.] [OE. petit, F. petit; probably of Celtic origin, and akin to E. piece. Cf. {Petit}.] Little; trifling; inconsiderable; also, inferior; subordinate; as, a petty fault; a petty prince.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 92Puerile — Pu er*ile, a. [L. puerilis, fr. puer a child, a boy: cf. F. pu[ e]ril.] Boyish; childish; trifling; silly. [1913 Webster] The French have been notorious through generations for their puerile affectation of Roman forms, models, and historic… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 93Tittle-tattle — Tit tle tat tle, n. [A reduplication of tattle.] 1. Idle, trifling talk; empty prattle. Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster] 2. An idle, trifling talker; a gossip. [R.] Tatler. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 94To make light of — Light Light, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[=i]ht, le[ o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l[ a]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 95To set light by — Light Light, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[=i]ht, le[ o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l[ a]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 96Trivial — Triv i*al, a. [L. trivialis, properly, that is in, or belongs to, the crossroads or public streets; hence, that may be found everywhere, common, fr. trivium a place where three roads meet, a crossroad, the public street; tri (see {Tri }) + via a… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 97Trivial name — Trivial Triv i*al, a. [L. trivialis, properly, that is in, or belongs to, the crossroads or public streets; hence, that may be found everywhere, common, fr. trivium a place where three roads meet, a crossroad, the public street; tri (see {Tri })… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 98Vain — Vain, a. [Compar. {Vainer}; superl. {Vainest}.] [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. {Vanish}, {Vanity}, {Vaunt} to boast.] [1913 Webster] 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. Thy vain… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 99Vainer — Vain Vain, a. [Compar. {Vainer}; superl. {Vainest}.] [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. {Vanish}, {Vanity}, {Vaunt} to boast.] [1913 Webster] 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. Thy vain …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 100Vainest — Vain Vain, a. [Compar. {Vainer}; superl. {Vainest}.] [F. vain, L. vanus empty, void, vain. Cf. {Vanish}, {Vanity}, {Vaunt} to boast.] [1913 Webster] 1. Having no real substance, value, or importance; empty; void; worthless; unsatisfying. Thy vain …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English