different between foolery vs foolishness

English

Etymology

From Middle English foleri, ffollery, equivalent to fool +? -ery.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fu?l??i/

Noun

foolery (countable and uncountable, plural fooleries)

1. Foolish behaviour or speech.
   • c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act III, Scene 1, [1]

     Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun, it shines every where.

   • 1910, John Millington Synge, Deirdre of the Sorrows, in Plays by John M. Synge, London: George Allen & Unwin, 1910, Act I, p. 319, [3]

     Though you think, maybe, young men can do their fill of foolery and there is none to blame them.

   • 1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Part Two, Chapter 1, [4]

     He […] hurried off to the Centre, took part in the solemn foolery of a 'discussion group' […]

Synonyms

• foolishness

Derived terms

• April foolery
• tomfoolery

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English folishnesse, follissnesse, equivalent to foolish +? -ness.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fu?l??n?s/

Noun

foolishness (countable and uncountable, plural foolishnesses)

1. (uncountable) The state of being foolish.
2. (countable) A thing or event that is foolish, or an absurdity.

Synonyms

• imprudence, folly
• extravagance, irresponsibility
• indiscretion, absurdity
• ridiculousness
• stupidity

Antonyms

• wisdom

Related terms

• fool

Translations