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simplement

Etymology and origin of the French word simplement

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 1125–50, Grand mal fist Adam
Ultimate origins
Latin (sem-,-plex)French (-ment)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin simplex
French simple
French simplement

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sɛ̃.plə.mɑ̃/[1]

Forms

simplement (invariable)[1]

Etymology

It is from French simple + -ment, from the adjective simple with the adverbial suffix.[2][3][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The poem Grand mal fist Adam (about 1125–50) uses it for “in a simple manner, without complexity”; the Grand Robert and GLLF date it about 1160, in the Roman de Tristan.[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

Tot simplement “only, merely” is found about 1200 in the Poème moral.[2][4] Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes (about 1165–75) used it for “straightforwardly, without guile”.[4] Purement et simplement is in Noël du Fail (1585), and “modestly, without show” in Guillaume Coquillart (about 1460).[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1125–50 – Grand mal fist Adam.[2]
  • c. 1200 – Tot simplement “only”.[2]
  • c. 1460 – “Without show”, Coquillart.[2]
  • 1585 – Purement et simplement.[2]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. simply, plainly, without complication or affectation: s'habiller simplement, recevoir simplement.[5][6][7]
  2. Frankly, without beating about the bush: avouer simplement qu'on s'est trompé.[7][4]
  3. Only, merely: je voulais simplement vous le dire, tout simplement, purement et simplement.[5][6][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  7. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Simplement.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/simplement. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·