Fritillaria (fritilaria)

[NL., in allusion to the shape of its perianth, of liliaceous bulbous plants, nearly allied to the lily. There are about 40 species, chiefly of the temperate parts of Europe and Asia, with 8 species on the Pacific side of North America. They have leafy stems and large, drooping, bell-shaped flowers. The largest species, and the one best known in cultivation, is the crown imperial, F. imperial is. The guinea-hen flower or snake's-head, F. Melea gris, and some others are occasionally seen in gardens. 2. In zoöl., a genus of copelate ascidians, of the family Ap pendiculariida. They have a tail half as long Crown-imperial (Fritillaria imperial is). IMG:content-1874.png:[blocks in formation] Crabbe , Works, I. 144. To fritter away, to waste or expend by little and little; waste by a little at a time; spend frivolously or in trifles. We shall probably, in another century, be frittered away Goldsmith, Reverie at Boar's Head Tavern. The time and energy of both Houses have been frittered away by wearisome and prolonged enquiries for the conduct of which the ordinary member of Parliament is unfitted. Edinburgh Rev. , CLXV. 287. fritting-furnace (frit'ing-fèrnās), n. In gla manuf., a form of reverberatory furnace in which the materials are fritted, or partially decomposed and fused, as a preliminary to fusing in the melting-pots. This proce was e ential when kelp was used in gla -making, but is now seldom practised. frivallt, a . See frivol . frivolt, a. [Also frivall; Stoping of the seruing of the said breuez nor nain vther frewell except i one, etc. Act . Dom . Conc . (1492), p. 246. ( E. D. ) I did (to shift him with some contentment) Make such a frivall promise. Chapman, All Fools, ii. 1. IMG:content-1875.png:[graphic] frivol (friv'ol), v.; pret. and pp. frivoled, friv olled, ppr. frivoling, frivolling. [ Gif thir jug is frivole his appellacioun, and convict him. Bellenden, tr. of Livy, p. 45. II. in trans. To behave frivolously; indulge in gaiety or levity. [Colloq. and humorous.] frivolism (friv'ō-lizm), n . [ frivol + -ism .] Frivolity. Priest ley . [Rare.] frivolity (fri-vol'i-ti), n.; pl. frivolities (-tiz). [=G. frivol ität = Dan. Sw. frivol i tet, The galleries of ancient sculpture in Naples and Rome strike no deeper conviction into the mind than the contrast of the purity, the severity, expre ed in these fine IMG:content-1876.png:[blocks in formation] The late Duke of Wellington, in early life, said Mangles, was much celebrated for his skill with the then fashionable toy called a bandelorum, and is said to have played with it in places where such frivolities were scarcely expected. Shirley Brooks, Sooner or Later, III. 89. =Syn. Lightne , Volatility, etc. (see levity ); triviality, puerility, trifling. Frivolity , Frivolousne . Frivolity of character or conduct; frivolousne of an excuse, a pretext, an argument.