flippant

(definition) by Webster 1913 (print) Tue Dec 21 1999 at 23:41:55

Flip"pant (?), a. [Prov. E. flip to move nimbly; cf. W. llipa soft, limber, pliant, or Icel. fleipa to babble, prattle. Cf. Flip, Fillip, Flap, Flipper.]

1.

Of smooth, fluent, and rapid speech; speaking with ease and rapidity; having a voluble tongue; talkative.

It becometh good men, in such cases, to be flippant and free in their speech. Barrow.

2.

Speaking fluently and confidently, without knowledge or consideration; empty; trifling; inconsederate; pert; petulant.

"Flippant epilogous."

Thomson.

To put flippant scorn to the blush. I. Taylor.

A sort of flippant, vain discourse. Burke.

 

© Webster 1913.


Flip"pant, n.

A flippant person.

[R.]

Tennyson.

 

© Webster 1913.

Y'know, if you log in, you can write something here, or contact authors directly on the site. Create a New User if you don't already have an account.