Obs. Also 5 fonne, 6 fone. [see prec. The later FUN v. (whence FUN sb.) is prob. etymologically identical.]

1

  1.  intr. To lose savor, become insipid or sickly in flavor. Only in pa. pple.: see FOND a.

2

  2.  To be foolish or infatuated; to act the fool; to become foolish.

3

c. 1440.  York Myst., ix. 89. Now Noye, in faythe þe fonnes full faste.

4

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., 36. Thou fonnyst as a best I gesse.

5

1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 274. With kissing, et with clapping, I gert the carill fon.

6

1570.  G. Buchanan, Admonitioun to the Trew Lordis, Wks. (1892), 30. Ye Dukis sone … causit ye rest of ye hamiltonis to fon for faynnes.

7

  3.  trans. To befool, make a fool of.

8

c. 1440.  Lydg., Secrees, 570. The fals Erryng hath fonnyd many Oon.

9

c. 1440.  Pecock, Repr., II. ii. 145. Into rebuke of Salomon it is rehercid that he, fonned and bidotid with hise wifis, made ydolis false Goddis and worschipid hem.

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c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 199. Soyn shalle we fon hym.

11

  4.  Sc. To toy with; to fondle.

12

1430.  Peblis to Play, vii. in Pinkerton, Select Sc. Ballads (1783), II. 4.

        Ane said The fairest fallis me;
  Tak ye the laif and fone thame.

13

  Hence Fonning vbl. sb., foolishness, foolish behavior.

14

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 4879.

        And our werkes [shuld] all wisely [be] wroght by discrecioun,
Þat we fare with no foly ne fonnyng of pride.

15

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., 304.

          Be his meraclys and fals prechyng,
He bryngyth the pepyl in gret fonnyng.

16