dalliance

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working
  2. noun playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest

Etymology

From Middle English daliaunce et al., from dalien (“to exchange pleasantries, to chat; to flirt”), from Old French dalier, dailer. By surface analysis, dally + -ance.

In classic literature

Synonyms

dawdling, trifling

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