daft

UK: dɑːft | US: dæft

Definition

  1. adj. silly, foolish, or lacking common sense

Structure
daft <foolish>
Etymology

The word "daft" originated from Old English gedæfte, which initially meant "mild" or "gentle." Over time, its meaning shifted to imply "foolish" or "silly," possibly due to the association of gentleness with naivety or lack of sharpness. This semantic drift reflects how cultural perceptions of traits like mildness evolved into negative connotations of foolishness.

Examples

  1. He made a daft mistake by forgetting his keys again.

  2. Don’t listen to her daft advice—it’ll only cause trouble.

  3. The movie’s plot was so daft that nobody could take it seriously.

  4. She laughed at his daft joke, even though it made no sense.

  5. It would be daft to go out in this storm without an umbrella.