Also spooneyism. [f. prec. + -ISM.] Spoony or foolish state or quality; silliness, spooniness.
1852. Tait’s Mag., XIX. 340. I discovered her alone,… and … insensibly found myself reduced to the most absurd state of spooneyism.
1863. Miss Braddon, Aurora Floyd, xiii. His innate manliness of character preserved him from any taint of that quality our argot has christened spooneyism.
1889. Illustr. Lond. News, 12 Oct., 454/3. No one since Younge has so understood the ‘spoonyism’ of the young soldier, his sheep-faced manner in the presence of his adored one.
