- trifle
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English trufle, trifle, from Anglo-French trufle, triffle fraud, trick, nonsense
Date: 14th century
1. something of little value, substance, or importance
2. a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often soaked with wine or spirits (as brandy or rum) and topped with layers of preserves, custard, and cream
II. verb
(trifled; trifling)
Etymology: Middle English truflen, triflen, from Anglo-French trufler to trick, talk nonsense
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead
b. to treat someone or something as unimportant
2. to handle something idly
transitive verb
to spend or waste in trifling or on trifles
• trifler noun
Synonyms:
trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet mean to deal with or act toward without serious purpose. trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt <to trifle with a lover's feelings>. toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers <a political novice toying with great issues>. dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement <dallying with the idea of building a boat someday>. flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object <flirted with one fashionable ism after another>. coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention <companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations>.
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.