Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Fool?

\Fool\, n. [Cf. F. fouler to tread, crush. Cf. 1st {Foil}.] A compound of gooseberries scalded and crushed, with cream; -- commonly called gooseberry 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 ({[AE]thusa 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\, 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\, 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.