Sĭm'ple1, a.
a. [compar. SIMPLER; superl. SIMPLEST.] [Fr. & Sp. simple, Pr. sämple, semple, Pg. simples, It. simplice, semplice, Lat. simplex, simplicis, perhaps from semel, once, a single time, and plicare, to fold; or from sine, without, and plica, a fold.]
Sense 1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine.
Sense 2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. “Simple truth.” Spenser.
Sense 3. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.
Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them. Marston.
Must thou trust Tradition’s simple tongue? Byron.
Sense 4. Unmistakable; clear; intelligible; as, a simple statement.
Sense 5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; inartificial; straightforward.
In simple manners all the secret lies. Young.
Sense 6. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. “A simple husbandman in garments gray.” Spenser.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. Prov. xiv. 15.
Sense 7. Humble; lowly. [Obs.]
Clergy and laity, . . . gentle and simple, made the fuel of the same fire. Fuller.
Sense 8. (Bot.) Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf; a simple flower.
Sense 9. (Chem.) Not having been, or not capable of being, decomposed, or separated into two or more elementary bodies; elementary.
Sense 10. (Min.) Homogeneous. Dana.
Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. Smith, Chitty. — Simple equation (Math.), an equation of the first degree. Math. Dict. — Simple interest. See INTEREST. — Simple larceny. See LARCENY. — Simple obligation (Civil Law), an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or which is not agreed to become void on the happening of any such event. Burrill.
Synonyms— Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise. — SIMPLE, SILLY, STUPID. One who is simple is unconscious of his own ignorance, and falls into mistakes either from a deficiency of intellect or want of experience and intercourse with mankind. One who is silly is not only weak in intellect, but is self-satisfied or pleased with his folly, and even mistakes it for wisdom. One who is stupid is like one stupefied, dull of apprehension, and slow to feel.
I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. Shak.
He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion. Law.
If I by chance succeed, Know, I am not so stupid or so hard, Not to feel praise or fame’s deserved reward. Dryden.