Definition of "fool"

Erasmus, [...] saide wiselie that experience is the common scholehouse of foles, and ill men: Men of witte and honestie, be otherwise instructed.

a. 1569 (date written), Roger Ascham, edited by Margaret Ascham, The Scholemaster: Or Plaine and Perfite Way of Teaching Children, to Vnderstand, Write, and Speake, the Latin Tong, […], London: […] John Daye, […], published 1570

No man is always a fool, every man is sometimes.

1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LII”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume IV, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; […]

'If I coloured at all, Mr Edward,' said Joe, 'which I didn't know I did, it was to think I should have been such a fool as ever to have any hope of her. She’s as far out of my reach as—as Heaven is.'

1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […], chapter 13

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken⁠Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools

1895, Rudyard Kipling, If—

You're just a poor misguided foolWho thinks they know what I should doA line for me and a line for youI lose my right to a point of view.

2001, Starsailor (lyrics and music), “Poor Misguided Fool”

And every time I'm meant to be acting sensibleYou drift into my headAnd turn me into a crumbling fool.

2008, Adele, Crazy for You

I like that you're brokenBroken like meMaybe that makes me a fool

2017 April 13, Mitchy Collins, Samantha Derosa, Christian Medice, “Broken”, in Finding It Hard to Smile‎, performed by Lovelytheband

This court fool could say bright things on occasion, but his main use to the ladies and lords of the palace was to serve as victim to practical jokes, cruel, coarse, and vulgar enough to be appreciated perhaps in the Bowery.

1896, Frederick Peterson IN Popular Science Monthly Volume 50 December 1896 , Idiots Savants

Such clouds of nameless trouble cross⁠All night below the darken’d eyes;⁠With morning wakes the will, and cries,‘Thou shalt not be the fool of loss.’

1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], canto IV

Can they think me […] their fool or jester?

1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […]

I'm a fool for the city.

1975, Foghat, "Fool for the City" (song), Fool for the City (album)

Upon opening the door, Trech was suddenly drawn aback by the shocking presence of the armed goon standing directly in front of him. “Yo, what up fool? […] ”

2010, G.C. Deuce, From the Gutter to the Grave: An American Hood Novel, Xlibris Corporation, page 291

“What up, fool?” he finally responded. “Not too much; fell asleep watching your boys get their asses kicked,” I told him, referring to the Carolina Cougars, the last team he played for before he got sick.

2012, Peron Long, Livin' Ain't Easy, Urban Books

Fame leaves out the house and walks to the BP gas station on Alabama Avenue. On the way there he sees his man Mark posted up at the rec center and walks over to holla at him. “What’s up fool?” Mark says while dapping Fame up.

2014, Hitta Lo, Bracing Season I, Kaleidoscopic Publishing

“What up fool?” Lil Slim said noticing the seriousness in Lil Kilo’s voice. “You ain’t switched up on us have you.” Lil Fresh looked at Lil Kilo like where that come from. “Nigga I’ll neva switch up.” Lil Slim said feeling a little offended.

2018, Keith L. Bell, Drought Season Over: The Sequel, Xlibris Corporation

Eton is renowned for its "messes," and "strawberry mess" is Empress of them all, with raspberry mess as a very good second. It does not at all convey the joys of a "mess" to say that it consists of iced fruit and cream, and somewhat resembles a "fool." It is a thing apart, and should be approached with bated breath and unimpaired capacity.

1913, Pearson's Magazine, volume 36, part 2, page 373

Pellaprat [...] invented the dish [of Eton mess] when a load of over-ripe strawberries needed eating up. His disguise was a fluff of whipped cream and the fool was served with sponge fingers. Somewhere along the line, someone else had the idea of stirring chunks of meringue into the fool at the last moment.

2014, Lindsey Bareham, Just One Pot

She bit it gently and found that it resembled a worm in no way whatsoever as to taste although because it was long and slender, a Little Red Hen might easily be fooled by its appearance.

1918, Florence White Williams, The Little Red Hen

There appears to be no process of gradually fooling oneself while degrading standards so characteristic of the Solid Rocket Booster or Space Shuttle Main Engine safety systems.

1986 June 6, Richard Feynman, “Personal observations on the reliability of the Shuttle”, in Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, Report to the President

Liara: Do not be fooled by these civilized surroundings. This is a place of secrets and lies.

2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Noveria

Is this a time for fooling?

1681/1682, John Dryden, The Spanish Fryar

She's always complaining that she got stuck with the worst possible committee. And that me and Jimmy fool more than we work.

1972, Judy Blume, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, page 56

They fool me to the top of my bent.

c. 1599 to 1601, William Shakespeare, Hamlet, III.ii.384

Of all the fool, fruitless jobs, making anything of a creature that begins by deceiving her, is the foolest a sane woman ever undertook.

1909, Gene Stratton-Porter, A Girl of the Limberlost

That was a fool thing to do. You could have gotten yourself shot

2011, Gayle Kaye, Sheriff Takes a Bride