Trivial

(Synop., § 130), a. [Fr. & Sp. trivial, It. triviale, Lat. triviālis, properly that which is in or belongs to the cross-roads or public streets, hence that which may be found every where, common, from trivium, a place where three roads meet, a cross-road, the public street, from tri, q. v., and via, a way.]

1Sense 1. Likely to be found any where; hence, common; ordinary; vulgar. [Obs. or rare.]

As a scholar, meantime, he was trivial, and incapable of labor. De Quincey.

2Sense 2. Of little worth or importance; inconsiderable; trifling; as, a trivial subject; a trivial affair.

Trivial name (Nat. Hist.), the name for the species, which, added to the generic name, forms the complete denomination of the plant; the specific name. Thus in Lathyrus palustris, Lathyrus is the generic name, and palustris the trivial or specific name, and the two combined form the complete denomination of the plant.