Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “frivolous” come from?

Frivolous comes from Latin frivolus, derived from Proto-Indo-European bʰreyH-, a root meaning to break or crumble.

frivolous (English): Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in...

Definitions

  1. Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in...

Ancestry of “frivolous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinfrīvolus—
2Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰreyH-to cut

Words derived from “frivolous”

  • frivolously
  • frivolousness
  • nonfrivolous
  • unfrivolous
  • unfrivolously
  • frivolousity
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰreyH- →