n.
Pronunciation: ' si-l ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: sil · li · er ; -est
Etymology: Middle English sely, silly happy, innocent, pitiable, feeble, from Old English s ǣ lig, from s ǣ l happiness; akin to Old High German s ā lig happy
Date: 14th century
1 archaic : HELPLESS , WEAK
2 a : RUSTIC , PLAIN b obsolete : lowly in station : HUMBLE
3 a : weak in intellect : FOOLISH b : exhibiting or indicative of a lack of common sense or sound judgment <a very silly mistake> c : TRIFLING , FRIVOLOUS
4 : being stunned or dazed <scared silly > <knocked me silly >
synonyms see SIMPLE
– sil · li · ly \ ' si-l ə -l ē \ adverb
– sil · li · ness \ ' si-l ē -n ə s \ noun
– silly noun or adverb