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Simple

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sim⋅ple

  [sim-puhl] adjective, -pler, -plest, noun
Use Simple in a Sentence
–adjective
1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: a simple matter; simple tools.
2. not elaborate or artificial; plain: a simple style.
3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned: a simple gown.
4. unaffected; unassuming; modest: a simple manner.
5. not complicated: a simple design.
6. not complex or compound; single.
7. occurring or considered alone; mere; bare: the simple truth; a simple fact.
8. free of deceit or guile; sincere; unconditional: a frank, simple answer.
9. common or ordinary: a simple soldier.
10. not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious: a simple way of life.
11. humble or lowly: simple folk.
12. inconsequential or rudimentary.
13. unlearned; ignorant.
14. lacking mental acuteness or sense: a simple way of thinking.
15. unsophisticated; naive; credulous.
16. simpleminded.
17. Chemistry.
a. composed of only one substance or element: a simple substance.
b. not mixed.
18. Botany. not divided into parts: a simple leaf; a simple stem.
19. Zoology. not compound: a simple ascidian.
20. Music. uncompounded or without overtones; single: simple tone.
21. Grammar. having only the head without modifying elements included: The simple subject of “The dappled pony gazed over the fence” is “pony.” Compare complete (def. 5).
22. (of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past) (opposed to compound ).
23. Mathematics. linear (def. 7).
24. Optics. (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only.
–noun
25. an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person.
26. something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded.
27. simples, Textiles. cords for controlling the warp threads in forming the shed on draw-looms.
28. a person of humble origins; commoner.
29. an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes: country simples.
Origin:
1175–1225; (adj.) ME < OF < LL simplus simple, L (in simpla pecunia simple fee or sum), equiv. to sim- one (see simplex ) + -plus, as in duplus duple, double (see -fold ); c. Gk háplos (see haplo- ); (n.) ME: commoner, deriv. of the adj.

Related forms:
sim⋅ple⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. clear, intelligible, understandable, unmistakable, lucid. 2. natural, unembellished, neat. 8. artless, guileless, ingenuous. 10. See homely. 12. trifling, trivial, nonessential, unnecessary. 13. untutored, stupid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sim·ple   (sĭm'pəl)   
adj.   sim·pler, sim·plest

  1. Having or composed of only one thing, element, or part. See Synonyms at pure.

  2. Not involved or complicated; easy: a simple task. See Synonyms at easy.

  3. Being without additions or modifications; mere: a simple "yes" or "no."

  4. Having little or no ornamentation; not embellished or adorned: a simple dress.

  5. Not elaborate, elegant, or luxurious. See Synonyms at plain.

  6. Unassuming or unpretentious; not affected.

    1. Having or manifesting little sense or intelligence.

    2. Uneducated; ignorant.

    3. Unworldly or unsophisticated. See Synonyms at naive.

    4. Being a fundamental or rudimentary element; basic.

    5. Not important or significant; trivial.

  8. Not guileful or deceitful; sincere.

  9. Humble or lowly in condition or rank: a simple woodcutter.

  10. Ordinary or common: a simple head cold.

    1. Being a fundamental or rudimentary element; basic.

    2. Not important or significant; trivial.

  12. Biology Having no divisions or branches; not compound: a simple leaf; a simple eye or lens.

  13. Music Being without figuration or elaboration: a simple tone.

n.  

  1. A single component of a complex, especially one that is unanalyzable.

  2. A fool; a simpleton.

  3. A person of humble birth or condition.

  4. A medicinal plant or the medicine obtained from it.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin simplus; see sem-1 in Indo-European roots and from simplex; see simplex.]
sim'ple·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

simple 
c.1220, "humble, ignorant," from O.Fr. simple, from L. simplus "single," variant of simplex (see simplex). Sense evolved to "lowly, common" (c.1280), then "mere, pure" (1303). As opposite of composite it dates from 1425; as opposite of complicated it dates from c.1555. Disparaging sense (1340) is from notion of "devoid of duplicity." Simply (adv.) in purely intensive sense is attested from 1590.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

SIMPLE

A savings incentive match plan for employees that is similar to but more flexible than an IRA for businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Employees enter into a qualified salary reduction agreement to contribute a percentage of their annual compensation to a tax-deferred retirement account.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: sim·ple
Function: adjective
1 : oral or written but not under seal or of record
2 : not extreme, aggravated, or complicated <simple kidnapping>
3 : having no limitations or restrictions —see also FEE SIMPLE —sim·ply adverb
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1sim·ple
Pronunciation: 'sim-p&l
Function: adjective
Inflected Forms: sim·pler /-p(&-)l&r/;sim·plest /-p(&-)l&st/
1 : free from complexity or difficulty: as a : easily treated or cured simple vitamindeficiency> b : controlled by a single gene <simple inherited characters>
2 : of, relating to, or being an epithelium in which the cells arearranged in a single layer

Main Entry: 2simple
Function: noun
1 : a medicinal plant
2 : a vegetable drug having only one ingredient
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

SIMPLE
1. Early system on Datatron 200 series. Listed in CACM 2(5):16 (May 1959).
2. Simulation of Industrial Management Problems with Lots of Equations. R.K. Bennett, 1958. Predecessor to DYNAMO, for IBM 704.

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

simple

see pure and simple.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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