simple

• adj. 簡(jiǎn)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(jiǎn)單的，直白的，來自拉丁語 simplex,單倍的，簡(jiǎn)單的，來自 PIE*sem, 一，詞源同 same,-plex,倍數(shù)，詞源同 triple,complex.引申諸相關(guān)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——只是簡(jiǎn)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(xì)節(jié)上復(fù)雜得要命，但在本質(zhì)上卻很簡(jiǎn)單。

來自柯林斯例句

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

房間仍然很簡(jiǎn)樸，四面都是飾有圓點(diǎn)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(jiǎn)單的情節(jié)使得這部電影差強(qiáng)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，事情并非那么簡(jiǎn)單，”戈德斯通語氣堅(jiān)決地駁斥道。

來自柯林斯例句