English
simpleness
Simpleness comes from Middle English symplenesse ‘guiltlessness, unguilt’, from Old French simple ‘mere’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pel-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pel-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘together, one’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsimplus‘single’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400simple‘mere’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500symple‘guiltless, blameless’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500symplenesse‘guiltlessness, unguilt’
- Englishtodaysimpleness
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pel-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘together, one’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsimplus‘single’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400simple‘mere’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500symple‘guiltless, blameless’
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500symplenesse‘guiltlessness, unguilt’
- Englishtodaysimpleness
Formed from simple + -ness
Latin simplex ‘simple, onefold’
Old French simple ‘innocent’
Middle English symple ‘guiltless’
English simple
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pel-
film, felt, push, filter, powder, fold, pulse, pillow, complain, repeal, flaw, palate, expel, repel, palladium, propel, pollen, palpable, compulsive, pall, palatable, pelt, wallow, peloton, polemic, pollinate, palatal, pulver, palp, pillion, muffle, tuple, peplum, interpolate, apoplexy, 64 more
through Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘together, one’
some, same, seem, single, similar, soft, sam, sincerely, simulation, singular, anomaly, resemblance, resemble, assemble, sincerity, simultaneous, simulate, semblance, anomalous, homeopathic, synapse, homology, assimilate, insincere, hyphen, synchronise, homolog, sempre, simile, simulacrum, 47 more
Today it means
noun The property of being simple.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pel- / simpleness