simple French · revision 17311

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1125–50, Grand mal fist Adam|origins=la simplex}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sɛ̃pl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''simple''' (plural simples)^(Wiktionary)

+ Anglo-Norman also ''sinple'', ''semple''.^(AND)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|simplex|t=formed of a single element; plain, artless; naive]], literally “folded once”.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(FEW|11, 634b) Rey connects its first element with the Indo-European root [[ine-pro|*sem-]] of unity, seen in [[ensemble]] and [[singulier]], and the second with [[ine-pro|*plek-]], the root of [[m|la|plectō]] (compare [[plier]] and [[m|la|duplex]]).^(DHLF 1992) The Grand Robert notes that its figurative senses appear earlier in French than its literal ones.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ Cognate with [[pro|semple]], [[es|simple]] and [[it|semplice]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==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.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==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).^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) The opposite valuation, of a person who acts without guile or affectation, is also of the 12th century.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ 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).^(TLFi)^(GLLF 1989) From ''simple médecine'', a remedy with one ingredient, as opposed to a compound one, came the noun ''simples'', medicinal plants (1546).^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) A tennis ''simple'' (singles) is recorded from 1894.^(TLFi)^(BHVF)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1125–50 – ''Un simple sarmun''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1175 – “Credulous, foolish”, in Chrétien de Troyes' ''Perceval''.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1200 – Opposed to ''double''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1462 – ''À simple tonsure'', in Villon.^(TLFi)

+ * 1546 – ''Simples'', medicinal herbs.^(TLFi)

+ * 1585 – ''Corps simple''.^(TLFi)

+ * 1606 – ''Futur simple'', in a grammar published with Nicot's dictionary.^(BHVF)

+ * 1860 – ''Simple d'esprit''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1894 – A singles match in tennis.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # (of a person) [[m|en|straightforward]], natural, without [[m|en|affectation]]; modest in manner.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # Credulous, [[m|en|naive]], easily taken in.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # Made of one element, not double or compound: ''aller simple'' (one-way ticket), ''corps simple'' (chemical element), ''passé simple''.^(Wiktionary)^(Larousse)

+ # Easy, uncomplicated.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Plain, without ornament: ''une robe simple''.^(Wiktionary)^(Le Robert)

+ # (before the noun) Mere, only: ''un simple soldat'', ''une simple formalité''.^(Wiktionary)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''Simple d'esprit'': a person of limited intelligence.^(Larousse)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(sports)'' A [[m|en|singles]] match.^(TLFi)

+ # ''Simples'' (plural): medicinal [[m|en|herb|alt=herbs]].^(TLFi)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[simplet]]

+ * [[simplement]]

+ * [[simplicité]]

+ * [[simplifier]]

+ * [[simplesse]]

+ * [[simpliste]]

+ * [[simplification]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|simplex]]

+ * [[ensemble]]

+ * [[plier]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}