Sillier

Silly Sil"ly, a. [Compar. {Sillier}; superl. {Silliest}.] [OE. seely, sely, AS. s?lig, ges?lig, happy, good, fr. s?l, s?l, good, happy, s?l good fortune, happines; akin to OS. s[=a]lig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. s[=a]l[=i]g, Icel. s?l, Sw. s["a]ll, Dan. salig, Goth. s?ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. ???, Skr. sarva. Cf. {Seel}, n.] 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] ``This silly, innocent Custance.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

The silly virgin strove him to withstand. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. --Robynson (More's Utopia). [1913 Webster]

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

After long storms . . . With which my silly bark was tossed sore. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The silly buckets on the deck. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman. [1913 Webster]

6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet. See {Simple}. [1913 Webster]