- trivial (adj.)
- early 15c., "of the trivium," from Medieval Latin trivialis, from trivium "first three of the seven liberal arts," from Latin, literally "place where three roads meet," from tri- "three" (see three) + via "road" (see via). The basic notion is of "that which may be found anywhere, commonplace, vulgar." The meaning "ordinary" (1580s) and "insignificant" (1590s) were in Latin trivialis "commonplace, vulgar," originally "of or belonging to the crossroads."