symple

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Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French simple, from Latin simplex (“single; singular”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsimpəl/, /ˈsɛmpəl/

Adjective

symple (plural and weak singular symple, comparative sympler, superlative symplest)

  1. virtuous, godly, without sin:
    1. guiltless, blameless
      • c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.)‎, published c. 1410, Matheu 10:16, page 4v, column 1; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:
        lo I ſende ȝou as ſcheep in þe myddil of wolues / þerfoꝛ be ȝe ſliȝ as ſerpentis .· and ſymple as dowues
        So I'm sending you out like sheep in amongst wolves, so be shrewd like snakes and harmless like doves.
    2. humble, unassuming, mild
  2. simple, spartan, perfunctory, regular
    1. uncompounded, simplex, singular; composed of one part.
    2. (law, philosophy) Without extra conditions; unconditioned.
    3. (rare) transparent, apparent
  3. poor, miserable, needy
  4. non-noble, popular, peasantly
  5. dumb, unlearned, stupid
  6. unimportant, insignificant:
    1. meager, powerless, lacking
    2. cheap, inexpensive; of little value.
  7. dour, depressed, unhappy

Related terms

Descendants

  • English: simple
  • Scots: semple

References

Noun

symple (plural symplez)

  1. A pauper or peasant.
  2. That which is uncompounded, simplex, singular; composed of one part.
  3. An individual who is virtuous, godly, or without sin:
    1. (rare) One who is guiltless, or blameless.
    2. (rare) One who is humble, unassuming, or mild.
  4. (rare) That which is unimportant, insignificant or meager.
  5. (law, rare) A document without extra complications or conditions.

Descendants

References

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