From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Silly \Sil"ly\, a. [Compar. {Sillier}; superl. {Silliest}.] [OE.
seely, sely, AS. s?lig, ges?lig, happy, good, fr. s?l, s?l,
good, happy, s?l good fortune, happines; akin to OS.
s[=a]lig, a, good, happy, D. zalig blessed, G. selig, OHG.
s[=a]l[imac]g, Icel. s?l, Sw. s[aum]ll, Dan. salig, Goth.
s?ls good, kind, and perh. also to L. sollus whole, entire,
Gr. ???, Skr. sarva. Cf. {Seel}, n.]
1. Happy; fortunate; blessed. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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2. Harmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly,
innocent Custance." --Chaucer.
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The silly virgin strove him to withstand. --Spenser.
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A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. --Robynson
(More's
Utopia).
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3. Weak; helpless; frail. [Obs.]
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After long storms . . .
With which my silly bark was tossed sore. --Spenser.
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The silly buckets on the deck. --Coleridge.
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4. Rustic; plain; simple; humble. [Obs.]
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A fourth man, in a sillyhabit. --Shak.
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All that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.
--Milton.
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5. Weak in intellect; destitute of ordinary strength of mind;
foolish; witless; simple; as, a silly woman.
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6. Proceeding from want of understanding or common judgment;
characterized by weakness or folly; unwise; absurd;
stupid; as, silly conduct; a silly question.
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Syn: Simple; brainless; witless; shallow; foolish; unwise;
indiscreet. See {Simple}.
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