simplex

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɪm.pɫɛks]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsim.pleks]^[1]

Forms

simplex (genitive simplicis, comparative simplicior, superlative simplicissimus, adverb simpliciter); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sem- (“one”) + -plex (“-fold”), literally “one-fold”.^[2][1][3] The first element is the root of semel “once”, from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one”).^[1][4] Lewis and Short compare plicō “to fold”.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,^[6] who says a town will be well enough protected by a single wall.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant single, of one layer, as a single wall or battle line, and onefold in payments.^[2] It meant consisting of one element, simple, uncompounded, as Terence's comedy made double from a single plot and Cicero's nature of a living being that is either simple or compound.^[2][7]

It meant pure and simple, free from complications, plain and unadorned, as Horace's simple pipe with few holes.^[2] Of people it meant artless, frank or guileless, as Cicero's “what a simple man, who hides nothing from us!”.^[2] In mathematics it meant prime.^[1] English simplex was borrowed in the 1590s.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a single wall.^[2][6]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a simple plot.^[2][6]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a frank man.^[2][6]
• 1590s – English simplex is borrowed.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Single, of one layer.^[2][1]
2. Onefold.^[2]
3. Simple, uncompounded.^[2][1]
4. Alone, pure and simple.^[2][1]
5. Basic, absolute.^[2]
6. Straightforward, uncomplicated.^[2]
7. Plain, unadorned.^[2]
8. Artless, frank, guileless, naive.^[2][1]
9. (mathematics) Prime.^[1]

Word family

• persimplex
• simplicitās
• simplicō

Related words

• duplex
• quadruplex
• simplicābilis
• simplus
• triplex
• English simplex

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.