— sillily , adv. — silliness , n.
/sil"ee/ , adj., sillier, silliest , n. , pl. sillies .
adj.
1. weak-minded or lacking good sense; stupid or foolish: a silly writer.
2. absurd; ridiculous; irrational: a silly idea.
3. stunned; dazed: He knocked me silly.
4. Cricket. (of a fielder or the fielder's playing position) extremely close to the batsman's wicket: silly mid off.
5. Archaic. rustic; plain; homely.
6. Archaic. weak; helpless.
7. Obs. lowly in rank or state; humble.
n.
8. Informal. a silly or foolish person: Don't be such a silly.
[ 1375-1425; earlier sylie, sillie foolish, feeble-minded, simple, pitiful; late ME syly, var. of sely SEELY ]
Syn. 1. witless, senseless, dull-witted, dim-witted. See foolish. 2. inane, asinine, nonsensical, preposterous.
Ant. 1. sensible.