frolic

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈfɹɑlɪk/ UK /ˈfɹɒlɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #26740

Meanings

1

verb
To play and move about in a happy, lively, carefree way.

We watched the lambs frolic in the meadow on a sunny morning.
2

noun
A cheerful, light-hearted activity done for fun.

The afternoon turned into a joyful frolic on the beach.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to play and move about in a... lark romp

2 noun · a cheerful, light-hearted... play

Word family

Forms frolickedfrolickingfrolics

Derived forms frolicfulfrolickerfrolickyfroliclyfrolicnessfrolicsome rollick

Related forms cavort

Simplified etymology

Frolic was borrowed in the early 16th century from Dutch vrolijk, meaning “merry” or “cheerful.”

Etymology

From Dutch vrolijk (“cheerful”), from Middle Dutch vrolijc, from Old Dutch frōlīk, from Proto-Germanic *frawalīkaz. Compare German fröhlich (“blitheful, gaily, happy, merry”). The first element, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *frawaz, is cognate with Middle English frow (“hasty”); the latter element, ultimately from *-līkaz, is cognate with -ly, -like.

*prew- Proto-Indo-European vrolijk Dutch vrolijc Middle Dutch frōlīk odt *frawalīkaz Proto-Germanic *frawaz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# frolic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈfɹɑlɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈfɹɒlɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 26740

## Meanings
1. To play and move about in a happy, lively, carefree way.
2. A cheerful, light-hearted activity done for fun.

## Examples
- We watched the lambs frolic in the meadow on a sunny morning.
- The afternoon turned into a joyful frolic on the beach.

## Derived Forms
- frolicful
- frolicker
- frolicky
- frolicly
- frolicness
- frolicsome
- rollick

## Related Forms
- cavort

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *prew-
- Root: vrolijk
- Root: vrolijc
- Root: frōlīk
- Root: *frawalīkaz
- Root: *frawaz

## Etymology
From Dutch vrolijk (“cheerful”), from Middle Dutch vrolijc, from Old Dutch frōlīk, from Proto-Germanic *frawalīkaz. Compare German fröhlich (“blitheful, gaily, happy, merry”). The first element, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *frawaz, is cognate with Middle English frow (“hasty”); the latter element, ultimately from *-līkaz, is cognate with -ly, -like.

## AI Etymology
Frolic is from Dutch vrolijk (“cheerful”), from Middle Dutch vrolijc, from Old Dutch frōlīk, from Proto-Germanic *frawalīkaz. Compare German fröhlich (“blitheful, gaily, happy, merry”). The first element, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *frawaz, is cognate with Middle English frow (“hasty”); the latter element, ultimately from *-līkaz, is cognate with -ly, -like. Important recorded forms include *prew- (Proto-Indo-European), vrolijk (Dutch), vrolijc (Middle Dutch), frōlīk (odt), *frawalīkaz (Proto-Germanic), and *frawaz (Proto-Germanic). Current senses include to play and move about in a happy, lively, carefree way and a cheerful, light-hearted activity done for fun. The wider family includes derived forms such as frolicful, frolicker, frolicky, frolicly, and frolicness; related words such as cavort.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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