sillies
Variant of silly
silly (sil′ē)
adjective sillier -·lier, silliest -·li·est
- Obsolete
- simple; plain; innocent
- feeble; infirm; helpless
- Now Rare feebleminded; imbecile
- having or showing little sense, judgment, or sobriety; foolish, stupid, absurd, ludicrous, irrational, etc.: often used in a weakened sense to mean “unreasonably concerned” don't be silly, it's no bother
- frivolous or trivial
- Informal dazed or senseless, as from a blow
Etymology: ME seli, sili (with shortened vowel), good, blessed, innocent < OE sælig, happy, prosperous, blessed (akin to Ger selig, blessed) < sæl, happiness < IE base *sel-, favorable, in good spirits (> Gr hilasia, propitiation, hilaros, gay, L solari, to comfort); sense development: happy → blissful → unaware of reality → foolish
noun pl. sillies -·lies
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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