Search the Dictionary

A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.

A silly fellow; a ninny.

To render trifling or futile; to make silly. [R.] Coleridge.

A sycophantic servant. [Obs.] Silly ducking observants, That stretch their duties nicely. Shak.

Silly; childish; trifling. [Obs.] To send such peevish tokens to a king. Shak.

Cowardice; want of spirit; pusillanimity.

Boyish; childish; trifling; silly. The French have been notorious through generations for their puerile affectation of Roman forms, models, and historic precedents. De Quincey.

That which is puerile or childish; especially, an expression which is flat, insipid, or silly.

The pollock, or coalfish; -- called also sillock. [Scot.]

In a silly manner. [Obs.]

See Silly. [Obs.] Spenser.

A sill. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Silly. [Obs.] Chaucer. Wyclif.

A weak, bashful, silly fellow. Ainsworth.

Silly; simple-minded; stupid. Taylor (1630)

To smile in a silly, affected, or conceited manner. Behold yond simpering dame. Shak. With a made countenance about her mouth, between simpering and smiling. ir. P. Sidney.

ect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." Shak. The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. xiv. 15.

Simplicity; silliness. [Obs.] Spenser.

A person of weak intellect; a silly person.

Weakness of intellect; silliness; folly. How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning Prov. i. 22.