Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Trifle?

\Tri"fle\, n. [OE. trifle, trufle, OF. trufle mockery, raillery, trifle, probably the same word as F. truffe truffle, the word being applied to any small or worthless object. See {Truffle}.] 1. A thing of very little value or importance; a paltry, or trivial, affair. With such poor trifles playing. --Drayton. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ. --Shak. Small sands the mountain, moments make year, And frifles life. --Young. 2. A dish composed of sweetmeats, fruits, cake, wine, etc., with syllabub poured over it.
\Tri"fle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Trifled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trifling}.] [OE. trifelen, truflen. See {Trifle}, n.] To act or talk without seriousness, gravity, weight, or dignity; to act or talk with levity; to indulge in light or trivial amusements. They trifle, and they beat the air about nothing which toucheth us. --Hooker. {To trifle with}, to play the fool with; to treat without respect or seriousness; to mock; as, to trifle with one's feelings, or with sacred things.
\Tri"fle\, v. t. 1. To make of no importance; to treat as a trifle. [Obs.] --Shak. 2. To spend in vanity; to fritter away; to waste; as, to trifle away money. ``We trifle time.'' --Shak.