simple

• adj. 簡單的；單純的；天真的
• n. 笨蛋；愚蠢的行為；出身低微者
• n. (Simple)人名；(法)桑普勒

來自古法語 simple,簡單的，直白的，來自拉丁語 simplex,單倍的，簡單的，來自 PIE*sem, 一，詞源同 same,-plex,倍數，詞源同 triple,complex.引申諸相關詞義。

simple

simple: [13] Etymologically, simple denotes ‘same-fold’ – that is, not multifarious. It goes back ultimately to a compound formed from prehistoric Indo-European *sm-, *sem-, *som- ‘same’ (source also of English same, similar, single, etc) and *pl- ‘fold’ (source of English fold, ply, etc). This passed into Latin as simplus ‘single’, which found its way into English via Old French simple.
=> fold, ply, same, similar

simple (adj.)

c. 1200, "free from duplicity, upright, guileless; blameless, innocently harmless," also "ignorant, uneducated; unsophisticated; simple-minded, foolish," from Old French simple (12c.) "plain, decent; friendly, sweet; naive, foolish, stupid," hence "wretched, miserable," from Latin simplus, variant of simplex "simple, uncompounded," literally "onefold" (see simplex). Sense of "free from pride, humble, meek" is mid-13c. As "consisting of only one substance or ingredient" (opposite of composite or compounded) it dates from late 14c.; as "easily done" (opposite of complicated) it dates from late 15c.

From mid-14c. as "unqualified; mere; sheer;" also "clear, straightforward; easily understood." From late 14c. as "single, individual; whole." From late 14c. of clothing, etc., "modest, plain, unadorned," and of food, "plain, not sumptuous." In medicine, of fractures, etc., "lacking complications," late 14c. As a law term, "lacking additional legal stipulations, unlimited," from mid-14c.

In Middle English with wider senses than recently, such as "inadequate, insufficient; weak, feeble; mere; few; sad, downcast; mournful; of little value; low in price; impoverished, destitute;" of hair, "straight, not curly." As noun, "an innocent or a guileless person; a humble or modest person" (late 14c.), also "an uncompounded substance." From c. 1500 as "ignorant people."

1. The letter was short — a simple recitation of their problem.

信寫得很短——隻是簡單地說了一下他們的問題。

來自柯林斯例句

2. Though off-puttingly complicated in detail, local taxes are in essence simple.

雖然地稅在細節上複雜得要命，但在本質上卻很簡單。

來自柯林斯例句

3. The room remains simple with bare, stippled green walls.

房間仍然很簡樸，四麵都是飾有圓點的綠色空牆。

來自柯林斯例句

4. Sadly, the film is let down by an excessively simple plot.

遺憾的是，過於簡單的情節使得這部電影差強人意。

來自柯林斯例句

5. "But Peter, it's not that simple," Goldstone countered in a firm voice.

“但是，彼得，事情並非那麽簡單，”戈德斯通語氣堅決地駁斥道。

來自柯林斯例句