silliest

1 definition found

silliest - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Silly \Sil"ly\, a. [Compar. Sillier; superl. Silliest.] [OE.
     seely, sely, AS. s?lig, ges?lig, happy, good, fr. s?l, s?l,
     good, happy, s?l good fortune, happines; akin to OS.
     s[=a]lig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG.
     s[=a]l[imac]g, Icel. s?l, Sw. s[aum]ll, Dan. salig, Goth.
     s?ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire,
     Gr. ???, Skr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.]
     1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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     2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly,
        innocent Custance." --Chaucer.
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              The silly virgin strove him to withstand. --Spenser.
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              A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. --Robynson
                                                    (More's
                                                    Utopia).
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     3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]
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              After long storms . . .
              With which my silly bark was tossed sore. --Spenser.
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              The silly buckets on the deck.        --Coleridge.
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     4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.]
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              A fourth man, in a sillyhabit.        --Shak.
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              All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.
                                                    --Milton.
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     5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind;
        foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.
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     6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment;
        characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd;
        stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.
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     Syn: Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise;
          indiscreet. See Simple.
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