silly English · revision 88

+ ==Etymology==

+ A later form of [[enm|sely]], ''seli'',^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[inh|ang|gesǣlig|t=happy, fortunate, blessed]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(Wiktionary) related to ''sǣl'' “happiness”,^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Proto-Germanic ''*sæligas''.^(Etymonline) Compare [[de|selig|t=blessed]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ The meaning shifted remarkably: from “happy” to “blessed”, “pious”, “innocent” (c. 1200), “harmless”, “pitiable” (late 13th century), “weak” (c. 1300), and finally “foolish” (1570s).^(Etymonline) Compare [[nice]], whose meaning developed almost in reverse.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Adjective==

+ '''silly'''

+

+ # Lacking good sense; foolish.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Frivolous, not serious.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Absurd or laughable.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Dazed, stunned, as in ''knocked silly''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(cricket)'' Of a fielding position: very close to the batsman.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Weak and helpless; also simple, rustic.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Noun==

+ '''silly'''

+

+ # ''(informal)'' A silly person.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}