Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier (?); superl. Silliest.] [OE. seely, sely, AS. s&?;lig, ges&?;lig, happy, good, fr. s&?;l, s&?;l, good, happy, s&?;l good fortune, happines; akin to OS. sālig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. sālīg, Icel. s&?;l, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s&?;ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.] 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer.

The silly virgin strove him to withstand.

A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog.

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]

After long storms . . .
With which my silly bark was tossed sore.

The silly buckets on the deck.

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.]

A fourth man, in a sillyhabit.

All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.

5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.

6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.

Syn. -- Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet. See Simple.

Sil"ly, a. [Compar. Sillier (?); superl. Silliest.] [OE. seely, sely, AS. s&?;lig, ges&?;lig, happy, good, fr. s&?;l, s&?;l, good, happy, s&?;l good fortune, happines; akin to OS. sālig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. sālīg, Icel. s&?;l, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s&?;ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. &?;&?;&?;, Skr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n.] 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer.

The silly virgin strove him to withstand.

A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog.

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]

After long storms . . .
With which my silly bark was tossed sore.

The silly buckets on the deck.

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.]

A fourth man, in a sillyhabit.

All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.

5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.

6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.

Syn. -- Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet. See Simple.

• foolish, showing a lack of good sense and wisdom.
       I made a very silly mistake.
  
• irresponsible, showing irresponsible behaviors.
       What a silly kid, he's always getting in trouble.
  
• playful, giggly.
       The newlyweds called each other silly little nicknames.
  
• half-conscious.
       The impact of the ball knocked him silly.
  
• (cricket) of a fielding position, very close to the batsman; closer than short
  
• (pejorative) simple, not intelligent, refined.
       John was prosperous and his helpless, silly father could be of no use to him.