folly (ˈfɒlɪ
)
Definitions
noun
- the state or quality of being foolish; stupidity; rashness
- a foolish action, mistake, idea, etc
- a building in the form of a castle, temple, etc, built to satisfy a fancy or conceit, often of an eccentric kind
- (plural) theatre an elaborately costumed revue
- archaic
- evil; wickedness
- lewdness; wantonness
Word Origin
C13: from Old French folie madness, from fou mad; see foolC13: from Old French madness, from mad; see 1Synonyms
View thesaurus entry=
foolishness,
bêtise,
nonsense,
madness,
stupidity,
absurdity,
indiscretion,
lunacy,
recklessness,
silliness,
idiocy,
irrationality,
imprudence,
rashness,
imbecility,
fatuity,
preposterousness,
daftness,
desipience
Quotations
"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly"
Bible: Proverbs
Usage examples
He stretched for his drink, cursing himself for his folly in starting this conversation.
, The Touch of Innocents (1994)This might be the only record we ll ever make, so we wanted to put a bit of romance into it, some Napoleonic folly.
NME (New Musical Express) (2004)FOR a photograph of folly , picture the Kodak film factory in Melbourne.
The Australian (2004)Still, it was extraordinary folly by Gatland to go into the match without either him or Woods.
Independent (1999)Holmes ' paper was seen by his critics as being merely the latest folly in a minority delusion.
, THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)