Befool
/bɪˈfuːl/noun
To make someone appear foolish or to treat someone as a fool.
Did you know?Befool is a real English verb built from the intensifying prefix be- plus fool, showing how English can literally ‘dress’ a noun in a magical-sounding action form.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
bēfūlian
“to make foolish or act foolishly”
Middle English
ME
befulen
“to make a fool of, deceive, or trick”
14th Century
English
befoolen
“to deceive or mock as a fool”
Modern English
English
befool
“to make someone seem or become foolish”