id|i|o|cy

id|i|o|cy «IHD ee uh see», noun, plural -cies.

1. the state of being an idiot: »

Only because of an earlier naive reliance on tests of intelligence did we get the idea that idiocy and imbecility were deficiencies merely of an intellectual sort (Stone and Taylor).

2. great stupidity or folly: »

the bottomless idiocy of the world (Henry James).

SYNONYM(S): fatuity.

3. an action like that of an idiot; something very stupid or foolish: »

Leaving a loaded gun within the reach of a child is an idiocy.

╂[apparently < idiot + -cy, as in prophecy. Compare Greek idiōteíā uncouthness.]