noun

dalliance

dalliance, flirtation, brief affair, trifling

Their summer dalliance ended when he returned to college.

Their summer dalliance ended when he returned to college.

He viewed his painting as a brief dalliance, not a career.

He viewed his painting as a brief dalliance, not a career.

((a)) dalliance with (sb.) a brief romantic relationship with (sb.) Their summer dalliance ended when he returned to college.

((a)) dalliance with (sth.) a brief and not serious involvement in (sth.) He viewed his painting as a brief dalliance, not a career.

Synonyms: flirtation, affair, fling, trifling

From Old French 'dalier' meaning 'to chat, to trifle'. Related to the English verb 'dally'.

Think of the verb 'to dally', which means to act or move slowly, or to have a casual romantic relationship. A dalliance is the noun form of this idea.

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