Etymology
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simplicity (n.)

late 14c., "singleness of nature, unity, indivisibility; immutability," from Old French simplicite (12c., Modern French simplicité), from Latin simplicitatem (nominative simplicitas) "state of being simple, frankness, openness, artlessness, candor, directness," from simplex (genitive simplicis) "simple" (see simplex). Sense of "ignorance" is from c. 1400; that of "simplicity of expression, plainness of style" is early 15c.

Middle English also had simplesse, from French, attested in English from mid-14c. in sense "humility, lack of pride," late 14c. as "wholeness, unity;" c. 1400 as "ignorance."

Entries linking to simplicity

simplex (adj.)
"characterized by a single part," 1590s, from Latin simplex "single, simple, plain, unmixed, uncompounded," literally "onefold," from PIE compound of root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with" + *plac- "-fold," from PIE root *plek- "to plait." The noun is attested from 1892, "simple uncompounded word."
*sem- (1)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "one; as one, together with."

It forms all or part of: anomalous; anomaly; assemble; assimilate; ensemble; facsimile; fulsome; hamadryad; haplo-; haploid; hendeca-; hendiadys; henotheism; hetero-; heterodox; heterosexual; homeo-; homeopathy; homeostasis; homily; homo- (1) "same, the same, equal, like;" homogenous; homoiousian; homologous; homonym; homophone; homosexual; hyphen; resemble; same; samizdat; samovar; samsara; sangha; Sanskrit; seem; seemly; semper-; sempiternal; similar; simple; simplex; simplicity; simulacrum; simulate; simulation; simultaneous; single; singlet; singular; some; -some (1); -some (2); verisimilitude.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sam "together," samah "even, level, similar, identical;" Avestan hama "similar, the same;" Greek hama "together with, at the same time," homos "one and the same," homios "like, resembling," homalos "even;" Latin similis "like;" Old Irish samail "likeness;" Old Church Slavonic samu "himself."

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Definitions of simplicity

simplicity (n.)
the quality of being simple or uncompounded;
the simplicity of a crystal
Synonyms: simpleness
simplicity (n.)
a lack of penetration or subtlety;
they took advantage of her simplicity
Synonyms: simpleness / simple mindedness
simplicity (n.)
absence of affectation or pretense;
Synonyms: simmpleness
simplicity (n.)
freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort;
Synonyms: ease / easiness / simpleness
simplicity (n.)
lack of ornamentation;
Synonyms: chasteness / restraint / simpleness
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near simplicity

simple-minded

simpleness

simpleton

simplex

simpliciter

simplicity

simplification

simplify

simplism

simplistic

simply

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