▪ I. † fon, n. and a. Obs.
Also 5 fone, 5–6 fonn(e.
[Belongs to fon v.; but the mutual relation of the words is uncertain.
It is tempting to connect the n. with Sw. fån(e, MDa. fåne fool, mod.Icel. fáni swaggerer, vain person; but the history of the Eng. words shows no trace of a long vowel, and the northern Eng. forms have o, and not the a which in that dialect normally represents ON. á. Besides, the primary sense of the Eng. vb. appears to be ‘to lose savour, become insipid’, and if so the n. is prob. from the vb.]
A. n. A fool.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9186 (Cott.) O þis manasses com amon, þat, als his fader, was a fon. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 4051 After Eldolf, þys folted fon, Cam his sone hight Redyon. c 1450 Cov. Myst. 367 A! ȝe ffonnys and slought of herte ffor to beleve in holy Scrypture! c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 5386 God some tyme chastys a fonn And he is made mare wyse. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 1200 Wenyst thou that I cannot make the play the fon? 1595 Spenser Col. Clout 292 Ah! Cuddy, (then quoth Colin) thous a fon. |
B. adj. Foolish, silly.
| c 1440 Gesta Rom. lx. 248 (Harl. MS.) The lion stode besyde him, as he hadde be a ffonne shepe. 1538 Starkey England i. i. 24 Yf wyse men..wold have bent themselfe to that purpos, levyng such fon respecte of tyme and of place. |
Hence ˈfonly adv., foolishly, fondly; ˈfonnish a., somewhat foolish.
| c 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. iv. 156 Thilk fonnysch opinioun may sonne bi wise men be schewed..to be vntrewe. 1481 Tiptoft tr. Cicero's De Amic. (1530) B viij, What may be a more fonnysh thyng than whan [etc.]. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 659 Tusshe, fonnysshe Fansy, thou arte frantyke. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. May 58, I..had rather be envied, All were it of my foe, than fonly pitied. |
▪ II. † fon, v. Obs.
Also 5 fonne, 6 fone.
[see prec. The later fun v. (whence fun n.) is prob. etymologically identical.]
1. intr. To lose savour, become insipid or sickly in flavour. Only in pa. pple.: see fond a.
2. To be foolish or infatuated; to act the fool; to become foolish.
| c 1440 York Myst. ix. 89 Now Noye, in faythe þe fonnes full faste. c 1450 Cov. Myst. 36 Thou fonnyst as a best I gesse. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 274 With kissing, et with clapping, I gert the carill fon. 1570 Buchanan Ane Admonitioun Wks. (1892) 30 Y⊇ Dukis sone..causit y⊇ rest of y hamiltonis to fon for faynnes. |
3. trans. To befool, make a fool of.
| c 1440 Lydg. Secrees 570 The fals Erryng hath fonnyd many Oon. c 1449 Pecock Repr. ii. ii. 145 Salomon..fonned and bidotid with hise wifis, made ydolis. c 1460 Towneley Myst. (Surtees) 199 Soyn shalle we fon hym. |
4. Sc. To toy with; to fondle.
| 1430 Peblis to Play vii. in Pinkerton Scot. Ball. (1783) I. 4 The fairest fallis me; Tak ye the laif and fone thame. |
Hence ˈfonning vbl. n., foolishness, foolish behaviour.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 4880 Our werkes [shuld] all wisely [be] wroght by discrecioun, þat we fare with no foly ne fonnyng of pride. c 1450 Cov. Myst. 304 Be his meraclys and fals prechyng He bryngyth the pepyl in gret fonnyng. |
▪ III. fon
obs. form of find; Sc. pl. of foe.