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fatuous - 6 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.
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.
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'

Fatuous

Fat"u*ous\, a. [L. fatuus.]

1. Feeble in mind; weak; silly; stupid; foolish; fatuitous. --Glanvill.

2. Without reality; illusory, like the ignis fatuus.

Thence fatuous fires and meteors take their birth. --Danham.

fatuous 
1608, from L. fatuus "foolish, insipid," of uncertain origin.
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