Etymology

frivolous

friv·o·lous
F4R1I1V4O1L1O1U1S1

Today it means: Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner; lacking a good reason for being, or for doing what one does; due to or moved by a caprice or whim. Full definition →

Latin frīvolus
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The story

  1. Latin · borrowed fromfrīvolus“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”
  2. English todayfrivolous

From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.

Words from the same roots

Latinfrīvolus all →

frivol

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.