- simple
- early 13c., "humble, ignorant," from O.Fr. simple, from L. simplus "single," variant of simplex (see simplex). Sense evolved to "lowly, common" (late 13c.), then "mere, pure" (c.1300). As opposite of composite it dates from 1425; as opposite of complicated it dates from c.1555. Disparaging sense (mid-14c.) is from notion of "devoid of duplicity." Simply (adv.) in purely intensive sense is attested from 1590.