bə̇, bē+ transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: be- + fool, n.
1.
a. : to make a fool of : cause to appear foolish
befooling a pedant with questions
b. : to lead on or astray especially into something foolish or stupid
c. : to cause to believe something false : deceive
the masses … browbeaten and befooled by bureaucrats — A.R.Williams
2. obsolete : to call (a person) a fool
Synonyms: see dupe