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befool. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
befool, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
befool in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
befool you have here. The definition of the word
befool will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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English
Etymology
From Middle English bifolen, equivalent to be- + fool.
Pronunciation
Verb
befool (third-person singular simple present befools, present participle befooling, simple past and past participle befooled)
- (transitive, archaic) To make a fool out of (someone); to fool, trick, or deceive (someone).
1605, Joseph Hall, Meditations and Vowes, Diuine and Morall, London: John Porter, section 63:Nothing doth so befoole a man as extreme passion; this doth both make them fooles, which otherwise are not; and show them to be fooles that are so […]
1637 July, Robert Sanderson, “ Sermon VI. Otelands, July 1637.”, in XXXIV Sermons. , 5th edition, London: for A. Seil, and are to be sold by G. Sawbridge, , published 1671, →OCLC, paragraph 10, page 81:[T]hey ſettle upon their ovvn dregs, and grovv muddy and muſty vvith long eaſe, and their proſperity befooleth them to their ovvn deſtruction.
1901, Andrew Lang, “The Fairy of the Dawn”, in The Violet Fairy Book:But above all beware never to look the Fairy of the Dawn in the face, for she has eyes that will bewitch you, and glances that will befool you.
Usage notes
- Although archaic in Western countries, this verb is still current in the English of South Asia.
Derived terms
Translations
to fool, trick or deceive someone