Fool
(Fool), n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind
bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. Folly, Follicle.]
1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.
2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of
wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt.
Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools.
Milton.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
Franklin. 3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Ps. xiv. 1. 4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport,
dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments.
Can they think me . . . their fool or jester?
Milton. April fool,
Court fool, etc.
See under April, Court, etc. — Fool's cap, a cap or hood to which
bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters. — Fool's errand, an unreasonable,
silly, profitless adventure or undertaking. — Fool's gold, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in
color. — Fool's paradise, a name applied to a limbo (see under Limbo) popularly believed to be
the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.
— Fool's parsley (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant (Æthusa Cynapium) resembling parsley, but
nauseous and poisonous. — To make a fool of, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloq.]
— To play the fool, to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. "I have played the fool, and have erred
exceedingly." 1 Sam. xxvi. 21.
Fool
(Fool), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fooled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fooling.] To play the fool; to trifle; to toy; to
spend time in idle sport or mirth.
Is this a time for fooling?
Dryden. Fool
(Fool), v. t.
1. To infatuate; to make foolish. Shak.
For, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit.
Dryden. 2. To use as a fool; to deceive in a shameful or mortifying manner; to impose upon; to cheat by inspiring
foolish confidence; as, to fool one out of his money.
You are fooled, discarded, and shook off
By him for whom these shames ye underwent.
Shak. To fool away,
to get rid of foolishly; to spend in trifles, idleness, folly, or without advantage.
Foolahs
(Foo"lahs`) n. pl.; sing. Foolah. (Ethnol.) Same as Fulahs.
Fool-born
(Fool"-born`) a. Begotten by a fool. Shak.
Foolery
(Fool"er*y) n.; pl. Fooleries