simply
Appearance
English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Middle English symply, symplely; equivalent to simple + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.
Pronunciation
[edit]Adverb
[edit]simply (comparative more simply, superlative most simply)
- (manner) In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
- Antonym: complexly
- (manner) Plainly; without art or subtlety
- Synonyms: clearly, obviously, unquestionably
- (manner) Foolishly; stupidly.
- 1791, Charlotte Smith, Celestina, Broadview, published 2004, page 179:
- Mrs. Thorold had told her sons that a young lady was visiting at the house, whose history she had given them in short hand, describing her as a dependent on the late Mrs. Willoughby, whom her son had very simply intended to marry at Alvestone […] .
- (focus) Merely; solely.
- Synonyms: just; see also Thesaurus:merely
- I was simply asking a question.
- 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
- A “moving platform” scheme […] is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. […] This set-up solves several problems […]. Stopping high-speed trains wastes energy and time, so why not simply slow them down enough for a moving platform to pull alongside?
- 2019 May 21, Dylan Curran, “Facial recognition will soon be everywhere. Are we prepared?”, in The Guardian[1]:
- Rather than scanning a boarding pass or handing over a passport, you simply stare into a camera and you’re verified.
- (degree) absolutely, positively.
- Synonyms: very; see also Thesaurus:very
- That was a simply wonderful dessert.
- 1972, Al Green (lyrics and music), “Simply Beautiful”:
- What about the way you love me? / And the way you squeeze me? / Simply beautiful
- Frankly.
- Synonyms: honestly; see also Thesaurus:actually
- Simply, he just fired you.
Derived terms
[edit]Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]in a simple manner
|
merely, solely
Anagrams
[edit]Middle English
[edit]Adverb
[edit]simply
- Alternative form of symply (adverb)
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms suffixed with -ly
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English adverbs
- English terms with quotations
- English focus adverbs
- English terms with usage examples
- English degree adverbs
- English manner adverbs
- English speech-act adverbs
- English haplological words
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English adverbs