simple

sim•ple

[[t]ˈsɪm pəl[/t]] adj. -pler, -plest, n.

1) easy to understand or deal with

2) not elaborate or complicated; plain; unembellished:

a simple design[/ex]

3) not ornate or luxurious; unadorned:

a simple dress[/ex]

4) unaffected; unassuming; modest

5) occurring or considered alone; mere; bare:

the simple truth[/ex]

6) free of deceit or guile; sincere; artless

7) common or ordinary:

a simple soldier[/ex]

8) not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious:

simple tastes[/ex]

9) humble or lowly:

simple folk[/ex]

10) unlearned; ignorant

11) lacking mental acuteness or sense

12) naive; credulous

13) mentally deficient; simpleminded

14) chem. Chem.

a) composed of only one substance or element:

a simple substance[/ex]

b) not mixed

15) bot Bot. not divided into parts:

a simple leaf[/ex]

16) zool. Zool. not compound:

a simple ascidian[/ex]

17) mad mus uncompounded or without overtones; single:

a simple tone[/ex]

18) gram.

a) (of a subject or predicate) having only the head without modifying elements included

Compare complete 5)

b) (of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past)

(opposed to compound I, 4))

19) math. Math.

linear 7)

20) opt (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only

21) an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person

22) something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded

23) a person of humble origins; commoner

24) pha an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes:

country simples[/ex]

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Etymology: 1175–1225; < OF < LL simplus simple = L sim- one +-plus, as in duplus duple (see -fold) sim′ple•ness, n.