foolish

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English folisch; equivalent to fool +‎ -ish.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈfuː.lɪʃ/
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -uːlɪʃ

Adjective[edit]

foolish (comparative more foolish, superlative most foolish)

  1. (of a person, an action, etc.) Lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.
    • 2017 May 13, Barney Ronay, “Antonio Conte’s brilliance has turned Chelsea’s pop-up team into champions”, in the Guardian[1]:
      Next season will, as ever, be a different matter, another problem for Conte to solve as he looks to extend his personal record of four straight league titles in club football across England and Italy. Given his hunger for more – more time, more detail, more work – only the brave or the foolish would bet against him.
    • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:
      As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.
  2. Resembling or characteristic of a fool.

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