simplicity

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Etymology

From Old French simplicite, from Latin simplicitas, from simplex (“simple”); see simple.

Pronunciation

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Noun

Wikipedia simplicity (countable and uncountable; plural simplicities)

1. The quality or state of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded; as, the simplicity of metals or of earths.
2. The quality or state of being not complex, or of consisting of few parts; as, the simplicity of a machine.
3. Artlessness of mind; freedom from cunning or duplicity; lack of acuteness and sagacity.
4. Freedom from artificial ornament, pretentious style, or luxury; plainness; as, simplicity of dress, of style, or of language; simplicity of diet; simplicity of life.
5. Freedom from subtlety or abstruseness; clearness; as, the simplicity of a doctrine; the simplicity of an explanation or a demonstration.
6. Weakness of intellect; silliness; folly.
7. (rare) An act or instance of foolishness.
   • 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essays, II.31:

     speaking of the great simplicity we commit, in leaving yong children under the government and charge of their fathers and parents.

Antonyms

• complexity

Related terms

• simple

Translations

quality or state of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded; as, the simplicity of metals or of earths

• Czech: jednoduchost (cs) f
• Esperanto: simpleco (eo)
• German: Einfachheit (de) f
• Hungarian: egyszerűség (hu)
• Kurdish:

  Sorani: ساکاری (ku) (sAkAri)

• Portuguese: simplicidade f
• Spanish: simplicidad (es) f
• Turkish: basitlik (tr)

quality or state of being not complex, or of consisting of few parts

• Portuguese: simplicidade f

• Volapük: balug (vo)

artlessness of mind; freedom from cunning or duplicity; lack of acuteness and sagacity

• Portuguese: simplicidade f

freedom from artificial ornament, pretentious style, or luxury

• Portuguese: simplicidade f

freedom from subtlety or abstruseness; clearness

• Portuguese: simplicidade f

weakness of intellect; silliness; folly

• Kurdish:

  Sorani: فه‌قیر عه‌قڵی (ku) (faqeer `aqiLi)

• Portuguese: simplicidade f

References

• simplicity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• simplicity in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911