3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Folly \Fol"ly\, n.; pl {Follies}. [OE. folie, foli, F. folie,
fr fol, fou, foolish, mad. See {Fool}.]
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. --Shak.
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.
From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]:
folly
n 1: the trait of acting stupidly or rashly [syn: {foolishness},
{unwiseness}] [ant: {wisdom}]
2: a stupid mistake [syn: {stupidity}, {betise}, {foolishness},
{imbecility}]
3: the quality of being rash and foolish [syn: {foolishness}, {craziness}]
4: foolish or senseless behavior [syn: {foolery}, {tomfoolery},
{indulgence}]
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
FOLLY, n. That "gift and faculty divine" whose creative and
controlling energy inspires Man's mind, guides his actions and adorns
his life.
Folly! although Erasmus praised thee once
In a thick volume, and all authors known
If not thy glory yet thy power have shown,
Deign to take homage from thy son who hunts
Through all thy maze his brothers, fool and dunce,
To mend their lives and to sustain his own
However feebly be his arrows thrown,
Howe'er each hide the flying weapons blunts.
All-Father Folly! be it mine to raise,
With lusty lung, here on his western strand
With all thine offspring thronged from every land,
Thyself inspiring me the song of praise.
And if too weak, I'll hire, to help me bawl,
Dick Watson Gilder, gravest of us all
Aramis Loto Frope
more about folly
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