|
Definition of Silly
1. Adjective. Ludicrous, foolish. "Some wacky plan for selling more books"
Language type: Colloquialism
Similar to: Foolish
Derivative terms: Goof, Goof, Silliness, Zany, Zany
2. Noun. A word used for misbehaving children. "Don't be a silly"
3. Adjective. Lacking seriousness; given to frivolity. "Silly giggles"
Similar to: Frivolous
Derivative terms: Giddiness, Lightheadedness, Silliness
4. Adjective. Inspiring scornful pity. "How silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"
5. Adjective. Dazed from or as if from repeated blows. "Slaphappy with exhaustion"
Definition of Silly
1. a. Happy; fortunate; blessed.
Definition of Silly
1. Adjective. (archaic) Pitiable; deserving of compassion; helpless. ¹
2. Adjective. (obsolete) Simple, unsophisticated, ordinary; rustic, ignorant. ¹
3. Adjective. foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom; frivolous, trifling. ¹
4. Adjective. irresponsible, showing irresponsible behaviors. ¹
5. Adjective. playful, giggly. ¹
6. Adjective. semiconscious, witless. ¹
7. Adjective. (cricket) of a fielding position, very close to the batsman; closer than short ¹
8. Adjective. (pejorative) simple, not intelligent, refined. ¹
9. Noun. (colloquial) A silly person; a fool. ¹
10. Noun. (colloquial) A mistake. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Silly
1. showing a lack of good sense [adj -LIER, -LIEST] : SILLILY [adv] / a silly person [n -LIES]
Medical Definition of Silly
1. 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. 2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. "This silly, innocent Custance." "The silly virgin strove him to withstand." (Spenser) "A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog." (Robynson (More's Utopia)) 3. Weak; helpless; frail. "After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore." (Spenser) "The silly buckets on the deck." (Coleridge) 4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. "A fourth man, in a sillyhabit." (Shak) "All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep." (Milton) 5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman. 6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterised by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question. Synonym: Simple, brainless, witless, shallow, foolish, unwise, indiscreet. See Simple. Origin: OE. Seely, sely, AS. Slig, geslig, happy, good, fr. Sl, sl, good, happy, sl good fortune, happines; akin to OS. Salig, a, good, happy, D. Zalig blessed, G. Selig, OHG. Salig, Icel. Sl, Sw. Sall, Dan. Salig, Goth. Sls good, kind, and perh. Also to L. Sollus whole, entire, Gr, Skr. Sarva. Cf. Seel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Silly
Literary usage of Silly
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The Development of Intelligence in Children: (the Binet-Simon Scale) by Alfred Binet (1916)
"For this test we begin with the following explanation: "I am going to read you
some sentences in which there is something silly. Listen attentively and tell ..."
2. The Development of Intelligence in Children: (the Binet-Simon Scale) by Alfred Binet (1916)
"For this test we begin with the following explanation: "I am going to read you
some sentences in which there is something silly. Listen attentively and tell ..."
3. The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by American Committee of Revision (1881)
"6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women
laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 9 But they shall proceed no ..."
4. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1876)
"Of course, it is all done by that silly, ambitious woman. She must have found
out the bitterness of it by this time. Have you read the poor child's speech, ..."
5. The Living Age by Making of America Project, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell (1880)
"And did you not forget ? " she says. " Forget you, Molly, never ! The love of
Eton jacket days Is just as green as ever." " You silly boy." " As silly still ..."