dalliances

Dalliances refer to casual, non-exclusive engagements that are typically short-lived and lack long-term commitment. The term is most often used to describe flirtations or light romantic or sexual encounters, but it can also refer to non-serious pursuits, amusements, or explorations that are undertaken without a firm or lasting intention.

The word derives from the English verb dally, meaning to toy with or amuse oneself. Historically, dalliance has carried connotations of playfulness and lack of seriousness, which influenced its use to describe brief attachments, flirtations, or other transient engagements in early modern and modern English.

In social and literary contexts, dalliance is often contrasted with more serious relationships or commitments. It can be described neutrally as a period of casual interaction, or it can carry moral or social judgments when the dalliance is secret, illicit, or disrupts established plans. In fiction and journalism, dalliance is a common motif for depicting courtship, romance, or the conduct of characters who pursue casual relationships while attending to other priorities.

Modern usage expands the sense beyond romance to include a light, exploratory engagement with activities, ideas, or collaborations that are not intended to be binding. While still relatively literary or formal in tone, the term remains in use to convey transience, informality, or a lack of seriousness in a given engagement. See also flirtation, pastime, and casual relationship.