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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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