frivolosity

English

Alternative forms

• frivolousity (nonstandard)

Etymology

From frivol(ous) +‎ -osity.

Noun

frivolosity (countable and uncountable, plural frivolosities)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being frivolous.
   • 1790, Martin Dunsford, Historical Memoirs of the Town and Parish of Tiverton in the County of Devon. Collected from the Best Authorities. With Notes and Observations., 2nd edition, Exeter: […] J. Brice, pages 59–60:

     Let us hope, that no frivoloſity of manners, no pride of wealth, of anceſtry and arms, or difference of opinion, will hereafter leſſen thoſe reaſonable enjoyments.

   • 1792, David Simpson, Strictures on Religious Opinions, and the Best Human Means of Ascertaining the Genuine Doctrines of Christianity: Designed as an Antidote Against the Theological Writings of Doctor Priestley and Other Heterodox Teachers, Macclesfield: […] Edward Bayley, page 244:

     Hence that frivolosity of conduct, which pervades all ranks of men, even where the intereſts of eternity are concerned.

   • 1795, T[homas] Bryson, A Comprehensive View of the Real Christian’s Character, Privileges, and Obligations: Being the Substance of a Course of Sermons on the Eighth Chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, the second edition, London: […] T. Chapman, page 74:

     Attention to vain and frivolous objects, produces a vanity and frivolosity of taſte and diſpoſition, &c.

   • 1804, William Gahan, A Supplement to the Manual of Catholic Piety. Containing an Explanation of the Latin Liturgy, and of the Sacred Ceremonies Used in the Mass; with Instructions and Devotions for the Sacrament of Confirmation, and a Great Variety of Excellent Prayers on Several Occasions, Taken from the Most Approved Books of Devotion in the French and English Languages., Dublin: […] T. M‘Donnel, page 126:

     Avoid four particular defects in converſation: firſt, frivoloſity or uſeleſſneſs, for Jeſus Chriſt declared, “we ſhall be accountable for every idle word.”

   • 1886, D[aniel] R[obertson] Lucas, Paul Darst; or, A Conflict Between Love and Infidelity, St. Louis: Christian Publishing Co., page 87:

     “There aint no subject but what you turn into frivolosity, even the failin’s of your feller critters, when you ought to be prayin’ and considerin’ on the sartainty of the futer condition of the elect and reprobates,” said the Elder with a tone of severity not altogether natural to him, as if he wanted to make the irrepressible Job serious for once at least.

   • 1904 September 4, George V. Hobart, “Dinkelspiel on Diamonds”, in The Butte Miner, volume XLII, number 32, Butte, Mont., page 9:

     Eferyding is now at der top notch of gayness und frivolosity und der midsummer madness vich demands dot money should be kept burning is now in der weins of dose present.

   • 1915 September 30, Poinsett & Son, “Mr. Poinsett Says”, in Florence Bulletin‎^[1], volume 28, number 29, Florence, Kan.:

     Who’s the dames with an over abundance of frivolosity, awing the old trail hitters of Petticoat lane to shame by wearing their “Phoenix” rolled down?

   • 1917 March 6, Bide Dudley, “Lucile, The Waitress”, in The Pittsburg Press, Pittsburgh, Pa., page twenty-two:

     Now, you know and I know that no lady likes to be made the butt of frivolosity from a stranger, so I very lady-like tell him to go and get some doctor to weigh his brains.

   • 1932, Anne Merrill, Songs of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Que.: Page-Sangster Printing Co., Limited, page 20:

     The telephone’s / A useful thing, / But when blocked up / By chatter / (Or other frivolosity) / I’m madder than a hatter.

   • 1950 February, Theodore J. Vittoria, “The Educational Theories of Vincent of Beauvais”, in The Catholic Educational Review, volume XLVIII, number 2, page 106:

     He finds that a division of his interests and energies between study and frivolosity is ruinous to success, and that the evil habits soon gain ascendancy making a mockery of study.

   • 1993, Nwaokedi Amatokwu, Mediaprudence: Appearance and Beyond: A Study in Nonverbal Communication and Human Chameleonics, Taorgan Publications, page 76:

     The other fashionable English varieties tend to represent and carry this frivolosity and lacking in the attributes of strength and steadfastness.

2. (countable) Something frivolous.
   • 1660, Samuel Fisher, Rusticus Ad Academicos in Exercitationibus Expostulatoriis, Apologeticis Quatuor. The Rustick’s Alarm to the Rabbies: or, The Country Correcting the University, and Clergy, and (Not Without Good Cause) Contesting for the Truth, Against the Nursing-Mothers, and their Children., London: […] Robert Wilson:

     […] whoſe wisdom lies more (if not in forgetting) yet at leaſt in forgoing frivoloſities, that are ſo Remote to the Souls Redemption, then to fight ſo fiercely and fooliſhly for them […]

   • 1769, John Barclay, Without Faith, Without God; or, An Appeal to God Concerning His Own Existence. Being an Essay, Proving, from the Scriptures, That the Knowledge of God Comes Not by Nature, Innate Ideas, Intuition, Reason, Etc. Etc. but Only by Revelation., London: Simpkin and Marshall; Liverpool: W. Grapel, and G. Philip; Glasgow: D. Robertson and Co. and J. Thomson, […], published 1836, pages 112–113:

     First, at school you get the grossest abominations, exceeding even those of Sodom and Gomorrah, laid upon your heart for a seasoning—a hashy of fornications, adulteries, murders, battles, and unutterable impurities, of gods, with gods and goddesses, giants and incredibilities, frivolosities and lies, endless genealogies of gods, male and female, and—[…]

   • 1889 April, The Friend, volume 47, number 4, Honolulu, page 25, column 3:

     Our good neighbor of the Advertiser gets such a castigation in the last number for a recent freak of alliterate verbosity, that The Friend must be on guard against any similar indecorous saltations or journalistic frivolosities.

Synonyms

• frivolity
• frivolousness

Translations

quality of being frivolous — see frivolity