fool
UK: fuːl | US: fuːl
n. a person who acts unwisely or lacks good judgment
vt. to deceive or trick someone
vi. to behave in a silly or playful manner
The word "fool" traces back to Old French fol (meaning "madman, idiot"), which itself derived from Latin follis (literally "bellows" or "windbag," later metaphorically "empty-headed person"). The semantic shift reflects the association of foolishness with lack of substance or rationality. The spelling and meaning remained stable in Middle English, retaining its core sense of silliness or lack of judgment.
Don’t be a fool—always double-check your work.
He felt like a fool after realizing his mistake.
The magician fooled the audience with his clever tricks.
She laughed and fooled around with her friends.
It’s cruel to fool someone into believing a lie.