different between absurdity vs trifling

English

Etymology

First attested around 1472. From Middle English absurdite, then from either Middle French absurdité, or from Late Latin absurditas (“dissonance, incongruity”), from Latin absurdus +? -itas (“quality, state, degree”). Equivalent to absurd +? -ity.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b?s??d.?.ti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /æb?s?d.?.ti/, /æb?z?d.?.ti/, /?b?s?d.?.ti/, /?b?z?d.?.ti/

Noun

absurdity (countable and uncountable, plural absurdities)

1. (countable) That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction. [First attested in the late 15^th century.]
2. (uncountable) The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. [First attested in the early 16^th century.]
3. (obsolete, rare) Dissonance. [Attested from around 1350 to 1470 until the late 17^th century.]

Translations

References

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t?a?fli?/

Adjective

trifling (comparative more trifling, superlative most trifling)

1. Trivial, or of little importance.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 234a.

     […] it doesn't take him long to make any of them, and he sells them for some trifling sum of money.

2. Idle or frivolous.
3. (African-American Vernacular) Of suspicious character, typically secretive or deceitful; shady.
   • 2001, Glenda Howard, Cita's World

     My hand was aching to slap that silly heifer. I told her to take her trifling ass down to Burger King and get herself a job flipping burgers […]

Synonyms

• trivial
• inconsequential
• petty
• See also Thesaurus:insignificant

Related terms

• trifle

Translations

Noun

trifling (plural triflings)

1. The act of one who trifles; frivolous behaviour.
   • 1845, George Croly, Samuel Warren, Marston, or the Memoirs of a Statesman

     He writes on the principle, of course, that in one's dotage we are privileged to return to the triflings of our infancy, and that Downing Street cannot be better employed in these days than as a chapel of ease to Eton.

Translations

Verb

trifling

1. present participle of trifle

Anagrams

• filtring, flirting