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fatuous

 - 5 dictionary results

fat⋅u⋅ous

[fach-oo-uhs]
–adjective
1. foolish or inane, esp. in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly.
2. unreal; illusory.

Origin:
1625–35; < L fatuus silly, foolish, idiotic; see -ous


fat⋅u⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
fat⋅u⋅ous⋅ness, noun


1. dense, dull, dim-witted. See foolish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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fat·u·ous   (fāch'ōō-əs)   
adj.  Foolish or silly, especially in a smug or self-satisfied way: "'Don't you like the poor lonely bachelor?' he yammered in a fatuous way" (Sinclair Lewis). See Synonyms at foolish.

[From Latin fatuus.]
fat'u·ous·ly adv., fat'u·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  fatuous1
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid
Etymology:  Latin fatuus 'foolish'
Main Entry:  fatuous2
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  illusory; delusive
Etymology:  Latin fatuus 'foolish'
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
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Word Origin & History

fatuous 
1608, from L. fatuus "foolish, insipid," of uncertain origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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