simple English · revision 3375

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200 (Ancrene Riwle)|origins=la simplus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɪm.pəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|simple]], [[bor|fro|simple|t=plain, decent; naive, foolish]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|simplus]] or [[m|la|simplex|t=simple, plain, unmixed]], literally “one-fold”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The first part is from [[ine-pro|*sem-|t=one]], also in [[same]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) and the second is -plus “-fold” in simplus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and Proto-Italic *-plak- in simplex, cognate with Greek [[m|grc|πλάξ|tr=pláx|t=flat surface]].^(Barnhart 1988) It is a doublet of [[simplex]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Humble, ignorant”: probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle'',^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1200, when it also meant “free from duplicity, guileless”.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense evolution is from “without parts, having few parts” to “free from complication”, as with [[silly]].^(Etymonline) “Free from pride, humble” is from the mid-13th century,^(Etymonline) and “of low rank, common” from about 1280.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) “Mere, pure, having nothing added” is from about 1303,^(Barnhart 1988) or the mid-14th century.^(Etymonline) “Consisting of one substance, not compound” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) or before 1398.^(Barnhart 1988) “Easy, not difficult” is from the late 15th century^(Etymonline) or about 1555.^(Barnhart 1988) Plain clothing and food are ''simple'' from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “foolish, silly” from the 17th century.^(Hoad 1986) The noun, a humble or guileless person, is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and a medicinal herb from the same time, because each herb was thought to have a single virtue and so to be a simple remedy.^(Etymonline) ''Simple-minded'' is from 1744.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1200 – humble, ignorant.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1200 – guileless.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-13th century – free from pride.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1303 – mere, having nothing added.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – not compound; plain; noun, a medicinal herb.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – easy.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1744 – ''simple-minded''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Easy to understand or do; not [[complicated]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Having or made of only one part or element.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Plain and without decoration.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Without additions; mere: ''the simple truth''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # Sincere and without guile; [[ingenuous]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Of humble birth or position.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Of low intelligence; foolish.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(archaic)'' A medicinal plant, or a medicine made from one.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A foolish person; a [[simpleton]].^(AHD)

+ # A person of humble birth.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[simpleness]]

+ * [[simplism]]

+ * [[simplistic]]

+ * [[subsimple]]

+ * [[ultrasimple]]

+ * [[unsimple]]

+ * [[oversimple]]

+ * [[simple-hearted]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[simplex]]

+ * [[simplicity]]

+ * [[simplify]]

+ * [[simply]]

+ * [[simpleton]]

+ * [[same]]

+ * [[single]]

+ * [[duplex]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The obsolete verb ''to simple'', “to gather medicinal herbs”, is from 1643, and a ''simpler'' was a gatherer of simples.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}