adv. See Slyly. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Sillier superl. Silliest. ] [ OE. seely, sely, AS. s&unr_;lig, ges&unr_;lig, happy, good, fr. s&unr_;l, s&unr_;l, good, happy, s&unr_;l good fortune, happines; akin to OS. sālig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG. sālīg, Icel. s&unr_;l, Sw. säll, Dan. salig, Goth. s&unr_;ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, Skr. sarva. Cf. Seel, n. ] 1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [ Obs. ] “This silly, innocent Custance.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The silly virgin strove him to withstand. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. Robynson (More's Utopia). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Weak; helpless; frail. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

After long storms . . .
With which my silly bark was tossed sore. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The silly buckets on the deck. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment; characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd; stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise; indiscreet. See Simple. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prov. E. silly-hew; cf. AS. s&aemacr_;lig happy, good, and hūfe a cap, hood. See Silly, a. ] A caul. See Caul, n., 3. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]