Middle English Dictionary Entry
fōlī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | fōlī adj. Also folē. |
| Etymology | From attrib. use of the noun fōlīe n. Cp. fọ̄llī̆ch adj., from fọ̄l fool, to which some of the quots. given here may belong. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Foolish, ignorant; imprudent, unwise, ill-advised; foli largesse, foolish generosity, prodigality [cp. fọ̄l-larǧesse n.]; ~ hastinesse, imprudent haste [cp. fọ̄l-hastī̆fness(e n.]; (b) sinful; (c) lascivious, libidinous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4220 : Now I haue hym forgo..þorw my folye dede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.813 : Men oghten eschue fool largesse [vr. foly largesse] that men clepen wast.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)267/4 : Þer ben manie foli lechis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7008 : He happe doon offence Þoruȝ foly speche for lak of sapience.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.18.18 : Thow art consumyd with foli labour [WB(2): with a fonned trauel].
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Curates (Corp-C 296)163 : Brekynge of foly bihestis of newe pylgrymagis & offryngis.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.681 : He dempte hymsilff off more auctorite, Off foli Youthe and off presumpcioun, Than was his fader.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)1572 : Scho..Thoghte grete ferly on filde Of þat foly fare.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.175v : That no folye ne ffoly hastynesse shulde amenuse his right, he sent to Pope Alesaundre the cause of his right and his werre, and let the cause be disputed in the court.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)18/25 : Þer-of comeþ many synnes as..fooly ȝiftes, folily dispende for to be holde courteis and large.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)52/14 : Ȝif a kynge haue þe oon or þe oþer vice, þat ys to say aueryce or folee largesse.
- a1500 Rule Minoresses (Bod 585)100/3 : Bi alienacioun or destruccioun of here godes or bi dette & foli obligacioun.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6411 title : The Ffoly Desyre of Ector.
b
- c1300 Evang.(Dlw 22)546/26 : Sum fol þot me scholde lede To wicke wille or folye dede.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Job 1.22 : Job synnede not with his lippis, ne any foli [WB(2): fonned] thing aȝen God spac.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1985 : We ne shul..Neuermore to-gedyr stryue, Ne foly wrdys be betwyxe vs seyd.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5006 : The foly dedis of hir infaunce.
- c1425 Contempl.DLGod (Mdst Mus.6)15 (H.8) : Þaw it so be þat þi frend liue foliliche, þou schalt not loue him for his foli leuing, but for he may bi Godis grace amende him.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)54/23 : Desyr of richesse dredys no shame; to drede noght shame makys foly takynge; ffoly takynge makys vntreuthe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13880 : The secunde ys..Off clerkys callyd ffoly dred.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4361 : Bilete..þi foli will.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)139/5 : The foly company of women destrueth the body.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4299 : Lest in hym she hadde see Ony foly countenaunce.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5085 : Fro foly love they kepe hem cler.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.181 : Sche hadde moste passyng Bewte..Whiche Made hym falle In foly thowht.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)159/16 : Þe ferste fote depthe of wose is foly thouȝt.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)52/28 : No body shulde..make countenaunce nor lokes of foly loue there inne, but yef it were of loue of mariage.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)76/23 : She shewed hym mani foly signes and semblauntz of fals loue and sinfull.