Follies
/ˈfɒl.iz/noun
Plural of folly: foolish behavior, a foolish act, or a lack of good sense.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *follis*, meaning “bellows” or “bag,” which gave rise to a sense of something blown up and empty — a haunting image behind “folly.”
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
follis
“a bellows; a large inflated bag”
Old French
Old French
folie
“foolishness; madness”
Middle English
English
folye
“foolishness; lack of sense”
Modern English
English
folly
“foolish behavior or an unwise act”
Modern English
English
follies
“plural of folly; foolish acts or behaviors”