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."
雙語例句
1. The letter was short — a simple recitation of their problem.
信寫得很短——只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.
雖然地稅在細節上復雜得要命，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，四面都是飾有圓點的綠色空墻。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Sadly, the film is let down by an excessively simple plot.
遺憾的是，過于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.