fool sb.1 (the phrase “a to” = in every way inferior to Shr. III. ii. 160 is not pre-S.)
1.
(with an adj. as
“good, poor”)
used as a term of endearment or pity Gent. IV. iv. 100, Ado II. i. 328, Tw.N. V. i. 381, Wint. II. i. 117, 3H6 II. v. 36, Rom. I. iii. 31, Lr. V. iii. 307.
2.
(somebody's) dupe or
sport LLL. V. ii. 68,
Tw.N. III. i. 158
“now I am your ,”
Rom. III. i. 142
“I am Fortune's ,”
Mac. II. i. 44
“Mine eyes are made the
f-s o' the other senses,”
Ham. I. iv. 54
“we f-s of
nature,”
Lr. II. ii. 132, Oth. I. iii. 389.
3.
born idiot, ‘natural fool’
All'sW. IV. iii. 213
“the shrieve's ”
=an idiot maintained by the sheriff, who was
responsible to the crown.
4.
used as adj.=foolish
Mer.V. I. i. 102, II. ix. 26.