simple

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsɪmpəl/ UK /ˈsɪm.pəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #835

Meanings

1

adj
Easy to do or understand; not difficult.

There is a simple way to solve this problem.
2

adj
Not complicated; having few parts or little decoration.

She prefers a simple life in the countryside.
3

adj
Honest and natural; without tricks or pretence.

He answered with simple honesty.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · easy to do or understand;... easy basic

2 adj · not complicated; having few... bare-bonesplain

3 adj · honest and natural; without... artless guileless

Word family

Forms simpledsimplersimplessimplestsimpling

Derived forms nonsimpleoversimplequasisimplesemisimplesimple-heartedsimple-lifeishsimple-mindedsimpleheadsimpleheartedsimplenesssimplesssimpleton

Appears in

Phrases (8)

See all

simple answer
a response that is straightforward and not complex

Adjective + noun
simple pleasure
a small, uncomplicated enjoyment

Adjective + noun
simple fact
a plain, straightforward piece of information

Adjective + noun
simple pendulum
an idealized pendulum with a weight suspended from a massless frictionless thread

Adjective + noun
simple pistil
a flower's female reproductive structure formed from one carpel

Adjective + noun
austerely simple
plain and restrained, with very little decoration or comfort

Adverb + adjective

Proverbs (3)

See all

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English symple, simple, from Old French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plicō (“to fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc. Partially displaced native English onefold.

*sem- Proto-Indo-European symple Middle English simple Old French simplex Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# simple

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪmpəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɪm.pəl/
**Frequency rank:** 835

## Meanings
1. Easy to do or understand; not difficult.
2. Not complicated; having few parts or little decoration.
3. Honest and natural; without tricks or pretence.

## Examples
- There is a simple way to solve this problem.
- She prefers a simple life in the countryside.
- He answered with simple honesty.

## Derived Forms
- nonsimple
- oversimple
- quasisimple
- semisimple
- simple-hearted
- simple-lifeish
- simple-minded
- simplehead
- simplehearted
- simpleness
- simpless
- simpleton

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *sem-
- Root: symple
- Root: simple
- Root: simplex

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English symple, simple, from Old French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plicō (“to fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc. Partially displaced native English onefold.

## AI Etymology
Simple is inherited from Middle English symple, simple, from Old French simple, from Latin simplex (“simple”, literally “onefold”) (as opposed to duplex (“double”, literally “twofold”)), from semel (“the same”) + plicō (“to fold”). See same and fold. Compare single, singular, simultaneous, etc. Partially displaced native English onefold. Important forms in the word's history include Proto-Indo-European *sem-, Middle English symple, Old French simple, Latin simplex. In current use it includes senses such as Easy to do or understand; not difficult and Not complicated; having few parts or little decoration.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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