Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Folly
1.
The state of being foolish; want of good sense; levity, weakness, or derangement of mind.
2.
A foolish act; an inconsiderate or thoughtless procedure; weak or light-minded conduct; foolery.
What
folly
’tis to hazard life for ill. Shakespeare
3.
Scandalous crime; sin; specifically, as applied to a woman, wantonness.
[Achan] wrought
folly
in Israel. Josh. vii. 15.
When lovely woman stoops to
folly
. Goldsmith.
4.
The result of a foolish action or enterprise.
It is called this man's or that man's “
folly
,” and name of the foolish builder is thus kept alive for long after years. Trench.
Webster 1828 Edition
Folly
FOL'LY
,Noun.
1.
Weakness of intellect; imbecility of mind. want of understanding.A fool layeth open his folly. Prov. 13.
2.
A weak or absurd act not highly criminal; an act which is inconsistent with the dictates of reason, or with the ordinary rules of prudence. In this sense it may be used in the singular, but is generally in the plural. Hence we speak of the follies of youth.3.
An absurd act which is highly sinful; any conduct contrary to the laws of God or man; sin; scandalous crimes; that which violates moral precepts and dishonors the offender. Shechem wrought folly in Israel. Achan wrought folly in Israel. Gen. 34. Josh. 7.4.
Criminal weakness; depravity of mind.Definition 2024
folly
folly
English
Noun
folly (plural follies)
- Foolishness.
- This is a war of folly.
- Thoughtless action resulting in tragic consequence.
- The purchase of Alaska from Russia was termed Seward's folly.
- A fanciful building built for purely ornamental reasons.
- A luncheonette in the shape of a coffee cup is particularly conspicuous, as is intended of an architectural duck or folly.
- 2014 September 7, “Doddington's garden pyramid is a folly good show: The owners of a Lincolnshire stately home have brought the folly into the 21st century, by building a 30ft pyramid [print edition: Great pyramid of Lincolnshire, 6 September 2014, p. G2]”, in The Daily Telegraph, London:
- It has been a long time since new follies were springing up across the great estates of Britain. But the owners of Doddington Hall, in Lincolnshire, have brought the folly into the 21st century, by building a 30ft pyramid in the grounds of the Elizabethan manor.
Related terms
Translations
foolishness
|
|
thoughtless action
fanciful building
|