simple
英 ['sɪmp(ə)l]
美 ['sɪmpl]
- adj. 简单的；单纯的；天真的
- n. 笨蛋；愚蠢的行为；出身低微者
- n. (Simple)人名；(法)桑普勒
CET4 TEM4 考 研 CET6
simple 简单的，单纯的来自古法语 simple,简单的，直白的，来自拉丁语 simplex,单倍的，简单的，来自 PIE*sem, 一，词源同 same,-plex,倍数，词源同 triple,complex.引申诸相关词义。
- 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.
- 信写得很短——只是简单地说了一下他们的问题。
来自柯林斯例句
- 2. Though off-puttingly complicated in detail, local taxes are in essence simple.
- 虽然地税在细节上复杂得要命，但在本质上却很简单。
来自柯林斯例句
- 3. The room remains simple with bare, stippled green walls.
- 房间仍然很简朴，四面都是饰有圆点的绿色空墙。
来自柯林斯例句
- 4. Sadly, the film is let down by an excessively simple plot.
- 遗憾的是，过于简单的情节使得这部电影差强人意。
来自柯林斯例句
- 5. "But Peter, it's not that simple," Goldstone countered in a firm voice.
- “但是，彼得，事情并非那么简单，”戈德斯通语气坚决地驳斥道。
来自柯林斯例句
