Middle English Dictionary Entry

fọ̄l n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms fọ̄l n. Also foul, ful, foil.
Etymology OF fol.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
A foolish, stupid, or ignorant person; ~ of kind, natural ~, a congenital fool.
Show 29 Quotations
1b.
A person temporarily foolish: (a) one who is dazed or drunk; (b) one who is duped or deceived.
Show 8 Quotations
1c.
(a) eber ~, open ~, a manifest or notorious fool; propre ~, tried ~, verrei ~, a real or genuine fool; (b) gret ~, high ~, mortal ~, muchel (more, most) ~, a great fool; (c) no ~, wise, intelligent; --in ironic understatement; (d) old ~.
Show 28 Quotations
1d.
(a) holden (for) ~, to consider (someone) a fool; (b) maken ~, to make (someone) appear a fool; to deceive.
Show 7 Quotations
2.
An impious person, a sinner, a rascal; ~ of bodi, unchaste person, harlot; men foles, foolish or sinful men.
Show 13 Quotations
3.
A court jester, a buffoon kept by a king or nobleman for his amusement; also, a menial servant [quot.: c1440]; ~ sage, a jester who is wiser than he seems, a wise fool; tattered ~, a jester in customary garb [orig., in rags and tatters; later in clothing fantastically cut, provided with tails, etc.].
Show 17 Quotations
4.
Proverbs and proverbial expressions:
a.
(a) A fool cannot be still; a fool must show his folly; (b) a fool is known by his tongue, etc.; (c) fool is that with fools deals; (d) a fool may guide the wise; (e) fool's bell is soon rung; (f) fool's bolt is soon shot.
Show 15 Quotations
b.
(a) Fair promise makes a fool glad; (b) folly is joy to the fool, etc.; (c) number of fools is endless, etc.; (d) take (give) no counsel of (to) a fool; (e) tell a fool his faults, and he will hate you.
Show 12 Quotations
c.
Miscellaneous.
Show 16 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)207a/b : Glas..is among stones as a foule [L stultus] among men, for it fongeþ al maner colour of [?read: and; Mrg: &] peyntynge [L omnem tincturam].
  • a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.114 : Glas..is amonge stones as a fowle is amonge men.
    • Note: New spelling
    Note: Sense 3.--per HWK

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Sense 2.: the form 'fole' in quot. c1330(?a1300) Tristrem needs to be added to the form sec.--MLL

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