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simple

Etymology and origin of the French word simple

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1125–50, Grand mal fist Adam
Borrowed from
Latin simplex
Ultimate origin
Latin (simplex)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin simplex
French simple
French simplement

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sɛ̃pl/[1]

Forms

simple (plural simples)[1] Anglo-Norman also sinple, semple.[2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin simplex (“formed of a single element; plain, artless; naive”), literally “folded once”.[3][4][5][6] Rey connects its first element with the Indo-European root Proto-Indo-European *sem- of unity, seen in ensemble and singulier, and the second with Proto-Indo-European *plek-, the root of plectō (compare plier and duplex).[4] The Grand Robert notes that its figurative senses appear earlier in French than its literal ones.[7]

Cognate with Old Occitan semple, Spanish simple and Italian semplice.[8]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the first record, a sermon of about 1125–50, a la simple gent (“for the simple people”), the poet preaches un simple sarmun, an uncomplicated sermon, for the unlearned rather than for clerks.[3]

Semantic evolution

Early senses applied to people: of humble rank, as opposed to the learned or to people with titles (simple chevalier, early 13th century); friendly and gentle (about 1150); modest (1155); and, from Chrétien de Troyes (about 1175), credulous and foolish, whence simple d'esprit (1860).[3][4] The opposite valuation, of a person who acts without guile or affectation, is also of the 12th century.[4]

Of things it meant not double (about 1200) and not compound, and entered learned vocabulary: nombre simple (1484), the corps simple of chemistry (1585), a feuille simple in botany (1694).[3][9] From simple médecine, a remedy with one ingredient, as opposed to a compound one, came the noun simples, medicinal plants (1546).[3][5] A tennis simple (singles) is recorded from 1894.[3][10]

Timeline

  • c. 1125–50 – Un simple sarmun.[3]
  • c. 1175 – “Credulous, foolish”, in Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval.[3]
  • c. 1200 – Opposed to double.[3]
  • 1462 – À simple tonsure, in Villon.[3]
  • 1546 – Simples, medicinal herbs.[3]
  • 1585 – Corps simple.[3]
  • 1606 – Futur simple, in a grammar published with Nicot's dictionary.[10]
  • 1860 – Simple d'esprit.[4]
  • 1894 – A singles match in tennis.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (of a person) straightforward, natural, without affectation; modest in manner.[11][12]
  2. Credulous, naive, easily taken in.[11][13]
  3. Made of one element, not double or compound: aller simple (one-way ticket), corps simple (chemical element), passé simple.[1][13]
  4. Easy, uncomplicated.[1][11]
  5. Plain, without ornament: une robe simple.[1][12]
  6. (before the noun) Mere, only: un simple soldat, une simple formalité.[1][11]

Noun

  1. Simple d'esprit: a person of limited intelligence.[13][4]
  2. (sports) A singles match.[3]
  3. Simples (plural): medicinal herbs.[3][5]

Word family

  • simplet
  • simplement
  • simplicité
  • simplifier
  • simplesse
  • simpliste
  • simplification

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 11, 634b
  7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  9. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  10. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  11. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  12. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  13. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)

Derived terms

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Simple.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/simple. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·