Fool
Fool , noun
[Compare French fouler to tread, crush. Compare 1st Foil.]
A compound of gooseberries scalded and crushed, with cream; -- commonly called gooseberry fool.
Fool , noun
[Old English fol, n. & adj., French fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. from Latin follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to English bellows. Compare 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.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
3.
(Scripture) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
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?
Collocations (8)
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 (Botany) , an annual umbelliferous plant (Aethusa Cynapium) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.
To make a fool of , to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloquial]
To play the fool , to act foolishly; to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
Fool , intransitive verb
To play the fool.
2.
To waste time in unproductive activity; to spend time in idle sport or mirth; to trifle; to toy.
Is this a time for fooling?
Fool , transitive verb
1.
To infatuate; to make foolish. — Shakespeare
For, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit.
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.
Collocations (1)
To fool away , to get rid of foolishly; to spend in trifles, idleness, folly, or without advantage.