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.
Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. --Milton.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn
in no other. --Franklin.
3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious
wisdom; a wicked person.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
--Ps. xiv. 1.
4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or
buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed
fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments.
Can they think me . . . their fool or jester?
--Milton.
{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
({[AE]thusa 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 the buffoon; to act a foolish
part. ``I have played the fool, and have erred
exceedingly.'' --1 Sam. xxvi. 21.
For, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit.
--Dryden.
2. To use as a fool; to deceive in a shameful or mortifying
manner; to impose upon; to cheat by inspiring foolish
confidence; as, to fool one out of his money.
You are fooled, discarded, and shook off By him for
whom these shames ye underwent. --Shak.
{To fool away}, to get rid of foolishly; to spend in trifles,
idleness, folly, or without advantage.