different between unwitting vs foolish

English

Etymology

From Middle English unwittinge, unwitand, from Old English unwitende (“unwitting; not knowing; unaware; unconscious”), from Proto-Germanic *unwitandz (“not knowing”), equivalent to un- +? witting. Cognate with West Frisian ûnwittend, Dutch onwetend, German Low German unwetend, German unwissend and unwissentlich, Icelandic óvitandi.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?t??

Adjective

unwitting (comparative more unwitting, superlative most unwitting)

1. unaware or uninformed; oblivious

   Synonyms: clueless, ignorant; see also Thesaurus:ignorant

   Antonyms: aware, cognizant

2. unintentional
   • (transl.) 4th century BC, Plato, Sophist, 230a

     Some people, apparently, have thought about it and reached the conclusion that every case of being misinformed is unwitting.

   Synonyms: inadvertent, unintended; see also Thesaurus:unintentional

   Antonym: deliberate

Derived terms

• unwittingly
• unwittingness

Related terms

• unweeting
• witting

Translations

References

• “unwitting”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

English

Etymology

From Middle English folisch; equivalent to fool +? -ish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fu?.l??/

Adjective

foolish (comparative foolisher or more foolish, superlative foolishest or most foolish)

1. (of a person, an action, etc.) Lacking good sense or judgement; unwise.
2. Resembling or characteristic of a fool.

Synonyms

• absurd
• idiotic
• ridiculous
• silly
• unwise

Antonyms

• wise

Derived terms

• a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
• foolishly
• foolishness

Translations