Webster's English Dictionary

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simple

Cross references:
  1. easy                  
 
1. sim.ple \'sim-p*l\ \-p(*-)l*r\ \-p(*-)l*st\ \-p*l-n*s\ aj or sim.pler;  
   or sim.plest [ME, fr. OF, plain, uncomplicated, artless, fr. L simplus, 
   simplex,] lit., single; L simplus fr. sem-, sim- one + -plus multiplied by; 
   L simplic-, simplex fr. sem-, sim- + -plic-, -plex -fold; akin to Gk 
   diplak-, diplax double - more at SAME, DOUBLE 1: free from guile : INNOCENT 
    2a: free from vanity : MODEST  2b: PLAIN, UNADORNED  3: of humble origin : 
   COMMON {~ farmer}  4a: UNEDUCATED  4b1: mentally retarded : HALF-WITTED  
   4b2: CREDULOUS  4c: NAI E, UNSOPHISTICATED  5a: UNMIXED, SHEER {~ honesty}  
   5b: free of secondary complications {a ~ fracture}  5c: not compound or 
   complex {~ sentence ~ word}  5d: constituting a basic element : FUNDAMENTAL 
    5e: not compound {~ eye}  6: free from elaboration or figuration {~ 
   harmony}  7a1: not subdivided into branches {~ stem}  7a2: MONOCARPELLARY  
   7a3: developing from a singly ovary {~ fruit}  7b: controlled by a single 
   gene {~ inherited characters}  8: having no limitation or restrictions : 
   ABSOLUTE, UNCONDITION AL {~ obligation} 9: causing little difficulty : 
   EASY, STRAIGHTFORWARD {~  statementM implies a degree of intelligence 
   inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort; 
   FOOLISH implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, 
   discretion, or good sense; SILLY suggests failure to act as a rational 
   being esp. by ridiculous behavior; FATUOUS implies foolishness, inanity, 
   and disregard of reality; ASININE suggests utter and contemptible failure 
   to use normal rationality or perception - sim.ple.ness n SYN syn FOOLISH, 
   SILLY, FATUOUS, ASININE: SIMPLE) 
2. simple n 1a: a person of humble birth : COMMONER  1b1: a rude or 
   credulous person : IGNORAMUS  1b2: a mentally retarded person  2a: a 
   medicinal plant  2b: a vegetable drug having only one ingredient  3: one 
   component of a complex; specif : an unanalyzable constituent