| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| folly |
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| SYLLABICATION: | fol·ly |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  f l  |
| NOUN: | Inflected forms: pl. fol·lies
1. A lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight. 2a. An act or instance of foolishness: regretted the follies of his youth. b. A costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome. 3. follies (used with a sing. or pl. verb) An elaborate theatrical revue consisting of music, dance, and skits. 4. Obsolete a. Perilously or criminally foolish action. b. Evil; wickedness. c. Lewdness; lasciviousness. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English folie, from Old French, from fol, foolish, from Late Latin follis, windbag, fool. See fool.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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