Category:Silly

Sil"ly, a. [compar. Sillier; superl. Silliest.] Etym: [oe. seely, Sely, as. s, ges, happy, good, fr. s, s, good, happy, s good fortune, Happines; akin to os. salig, a, good, happy, d. zalig blessed, g. Selig, ohg. salig, icel. s, sw. säll, dan. salig, goth. s good, kind, And perh. also to l. sollus whole, entire, gr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.]

1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [obs.] Chaucer.

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [obs.] "this silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer. The silly virgin strove him to withstand. Spenser. A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. Robynson (more's utopia).

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [obs.] After long storms. . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore. Spenser. The silly buckets on the deck. Coleridge.

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [obs.] A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. Shak. All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. Milton.

5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; Foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.

6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; Characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly Conduct; a silly question.

Syn. -- simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet. See simple.