simplifier

Forms

simplifier^[1] Middle French simplefier (15th century).^[2][3][4]

Etymology

The TLFi treats it as formed from French simple + -ifier.^[2][1] Rey, the Grand Robert and the GLLF instead take it from Medieval Latin simplificō (“to simplify”), a compound of simplex (“simple”) and faciō (“to make”), and see the early simplefier as a more French-looking form that did not last.^[3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record, as simplefier, is in the Internele consolacion, a French version of the Imitation of Christ: Com plus sera aucun a soy mesmes ung et simplefié par dedens (“the more one is at one with oneself and made simple within”).^[2] The TLFi dates the text to the mid-15th century; the GLLF and the Grand Robert give 1403.^[2][5][4]

Semantic evolution

The spelling simplifier appears in 1470.^[2][3] The verb first meant to remove complications, and in 1484 Nicolas Chuquet used it in arithmetic, of reducing an expression.^[2][5] It is also used of making a mechanism or rule work more simply.^[3][5] In the 18th century (1783, Buffon) it took the sense of representing something without all its elements, for the sake of coherence.^[3][5] From 1833 (Michelet) it was used without an object for keeping only a few elements of a complex whole.^[3][5] The reflexive se simplifier “to become simpler” is found from the early 18th century.^[3]

English took simplify from French in the 1650s.^[6]

Timeline

• Early or mid-15th century – Simplefier in the Internele consolacion.^[2][5]
• 1470 – The spelling simplifier and the noun simplification appear.^[2][3]
• 1484 – Nicolas Chuquet uses it in arithmetic in his Triparty.^[2]
• 1650s – English borrows it as simplify.^[6]
• 1783 – Buffon uses it of a simplified representation.^[5][3]
• 1844 – Balzac uses the derivative simplifiable.^[2]
• 1852 – Simplificateur appears.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make simpler or less complicated, removing what is not essential: simplifier une méthode.^[7][2]
2. (mathematics) Simplifier une fraction: to reduce a fraction by dividing both terms by the same number.^[7]
3. (absolute) To keep only a few elements of something complex, to oversimplify.^[7][3]
4. Se simplifier: to become simpler.^[8][3]

Word family

• simplification
• simplificateur
• simplifiable

Related words

• simple
• simplicité
• Latin simplex
• English simplify

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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 c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette