folly

noun (folly, follies)

«folly» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

Foolishness; a very silly or unwise act or idea. tree →
A strange decorative building, like a fake ruin or a tower, built in a big park or garden just for show. tree →
(follies, plural) A show with dancing, songs and jokes (old theatre word). tree →

In the lessons

In The Wind in the Willows the Badger and Rat try to save Toad from his folly with motor cars. In stories, «the folly of greed» is a lesson. On country walks in Britain and Ireland you may see a folly tower on a hill. Phrases: «sheer folly», «the height of folly», «it would be folly to…».

Examples

It would be folly to swim in the sea during a storm. tree →
Toad's folly with cars cost him a fortune. tree →
There is a stone folly at the top of the hill. tree →
Running away was sheer folly. tree →
The rich lord built a folly that looked like a castle ruin. tree →
Grandad says buying that old boat was his greatest folly. tree →
Why do you persist in this folly? tree →

Note

Plural: follies. Uncountable in the meaning «foolishness». Related word: fool, foolish.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it is the opposite of wisdom, one of the pairs of opposites joined to the double letters.

Interpretation. The seven double letters are said to have two sounds and stand for pairs such as wisdom and folly, life and death. They show the world's opposites held together.

Examples

They are called Double, because each letter presents a contrast or permutation; thus Life and Death; Peace and War (Evil); Wisdom and Folly; Riches and Poverty; Grace and Indignation; Fertility and Solitude (Desolation); Power and Servitude. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
The woman Folly is riotous; she is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing. (Writings PRO.9.13, JPS 1917) tree →
Every prudent man dealeth with forethought; but a fool unfoldeth folly. (Writings PRO.13.16, JPS 1917) tree →
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. (Writings ECC.2.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: follies. Uncountable in the meaning «foolishness». Related word: fool, foolish.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «folly» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«folly» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «folly» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«folly» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

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