All 5 Uses of
trifle
in
The Mill on the Floss
- It had been a more miserable day than usual; her father, after a visit of Wakem's had had a paroxysm of rage, in which for some trifling fault he had beaten the boy who served in the mill.†
Chpt 4.3 *
- I mean, daring to trifle with the respectability of a family that has a good and honest name to support.†
Chpt 5.5 *trifle with = treat thoughtlessly or without respect
- I could never trifle with anything that affected your sister's happiness.†
Chpt 5.5
- But Stephen did not appear to notice this, and as some lady-purchasers came up, he lounged on toward Maggie's end, handling trifles and standing aloof until Wakem, who had taken out his purse, had finished his t transactions.†
Chpt 6.9trifles = things of small importance
- But if you'd a mind to lend a bit o' money to Mr. Tom, he'd pay you six or seven per zent, an' get a trifle for himself as well; an' a good-natur'd lady like you 'ud like the feel o' the money better if your nephey took part on it.†
Chpt 5.2
Definitions:
-
(1)
(trifle as in: a trifling matter) something of small importance; or a small quantity
-
(2)
(trifle with as in: trifle with her affections) to treat somebody or something thoughtlessly or without respect
-
(3)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Less commonly, a trifle can refer to a kind of dessert. In classic literature, trifling can be a synonym for small talk.