from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Fool \Fool\, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad;
a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated
ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. {Folly}, {Follicle}.]
1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of
understanding; an idiot; a natural.
[1913 Webster]
2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or
pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one
without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt.
[1913 Webster]
Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn
in no other. --Franklin.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious
wisdom; a wicked person.
[1913 Webster]
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
--Ps. xiv. 1.
[1913 Webster]
4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or
buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed
fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments.
[1913 Webster]
Can they think me . . . their fool or jester?
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
{April fool}, {Court fool}, etc. See under {April}, {Court},
etc.
{Fool's cap}, a cap or hood to which bells were usually
attached, formerly worn by professional jesters.
{Fool's errand}, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure
or undertaking.
{Fool's gold}, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in
color.
{Fool's paradise}, a name applied to a limbo (see under
{Limbo}) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and
nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain
self-satistaction.
{Fool's parsley} (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant
({Aethusa Cynapium}) resembling parsley, but nauseous and
poisonous.
{To make a fool of}, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to
shame. [Colloq.]
{To play the fool}, to act foolishly; to act the buffoon; to
act a foolish part. "I have played the fool, and have
erred exceedingly." --1 Sam. xxvi. 21.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
April \A"pril\, n. [L. Aprilis. OE. also Averil, F. Avril, fr.
L. Aprilis.]
1. The fourth month of the year.
[1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: With reference to April being the month in which
vegetation begins to put forth, the variableness of its
weather, etc.
[1913 Webster]
The April's her eyes; it is love's spring. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
{April fool}, one who is sportively imposed upon by others on
the first day of April.
[1913 Webster]