Silly etymology

English

English word silly comes from Old English (ca. 450-1100) sælig (Blessed, fortunate, prosperous, happy.), Proto-Germanic *sēliz (Happy, fortunate. Kind, good.), Proto-Germanic *-gaz

Etymology of silly

Detailed word origin of silly

Dictionary entry Language Definition
sælig Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang) Blessed, fortunate, prosperous, happy.
*sēliz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Happy, fortunate. Kind, good.
*-gaz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) -y; forms adjectives from nouns and verbs with a sense of 'being, having, or doing'.
*sēlīgaz Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) Blissful, prosperous, happy.
ġesǣliġ Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang)
seli Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) Sely.
silly English (en) (now, regional, or, colloquial) Sillily: in a silly manner. (affectionate, gently, _, pejorative) A term of address.. (colloquial) A mistake.. (colloquial) A silly person.. (with 'the') The class of silly people collectively. (Scottish) Mentally retarded.. (chiefly, Scottish, obsolete) Blessed, particularly:. (cricket, of a fielding position) Very close to the batsman, facing the bowler; [...]

Words with the same origin as silly

Descendants of *sēliz

seal