different between frivolous vs franion

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f??v.?l.?s/
• Hyphenation: friv?o?lous

Adjective

frivolous (comparative more frivolous, superlative most frivolous)

1. Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner.
2. Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight.
3. (law, said of a lawsuit) Having no reasonable prospect of success because its claim is without merit, lacking a supporting legal or factual basis, while the filing party is, or should be, aware of this.
   • 2005, Factcheck.org^[1]:

     One of the major cost drivers in the delivery of health care are these junk and frivolous lawsuits.

Derived terms

• frivolent
• frivolously
• frivolousness

Related terms

• frivol
• frivolity

Translations

Further reading

• frivolous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• frivolous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

Origin uncertain.

Noun

franion (plural franions)

1. (obsolete) A cheerful, frivolous person, a silly man; a loose woman.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, London: William Ponsonbie, Book II, Canto 2, p. 215,^[1]

     First by her side did sitt the bold Sansloy,

     Fitt mate for such a mincing mineon,

     Who in her loosenesse tooke exceeding ioy;

     Might not be found a francker franion,

     Of her leawd parts to make companion:

   • 1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 12-14,^[2]

     […] as I am frollicke franion, never in all my life was I so dead slaine.

   • 1830, Charles Lamb, “Going or Gone” in Album Verses, with a few others, London: Edward Moxon, p. 75,^[3]

     Fine merry franions,

     Wanton companions,

     My days are ev’n banyans

     With thinking upon ye;