SIMPLE, SIMPLENESS (ignorant, weak-minded)
ADJECTIVES
960 ► AFALD simple, sincere, without duplicity; honest → obs.
1297 ► NICE simple; witless → colloq.
1421 ► SINGLE simple, plain; without further qualification or addition → obs.
1483 ► RUSTICAL of a thing: of a type or style appropriate to the country; plain, simple; crude
1519 ► SINGLE simple, honest, sincere, single-minded; free from duplicity or deceit
1547 ► SILLY unlearned, unsophisticated, simple, rustic, ignorant → obs. or arch.
1598 ► GULLISH foolish, simple
1598 ► RUSSET rustic; homely; simple
1640 ► SOFT-HEADED feeble-minded; stupid; simple → colloq.
1645 ► HALF-WITTED lacking or deficient in common sense or reason; simple; senseless → obs.
1651 ► SINGLE-FOLD simple → obs.
L17 ► NICKIN → NIKIN foolish, simple → sl.
L17 ► NIKEY foolish, simple → sl.
L17 ► PAPER-SCULLED → PAPER-SKULLED foolish, simple → sl.
1745 ► NAMBY-PAMBY of style, actions, etc.: weakly sentimental, insipidly pretty, affectedly or childishly simple
M18 ► MUDDLE-BRAINED confused, foolish, simple
M18 ► MUDDLE-HEADED confused, foolish, simple
1788 ► SACKLESS simple, inoffensive, harmless; trembling; bashful → Sc. & Eng. dial.
19C ► YAWNEY simple, foolish → sl.
19C ► DEDA simple, foolish, of inactive mind and body → Eng. dial.
19C ► FOOTY foolish, simple → sl.
M19 ► SPOONEY → SPOONY weak-minded, simple → sl.
1887 ► CRANNY simple, foolish → Eng. dial.
1899 ► DIPPY foolish, simple-minded, idiotic, shallow-minded; infatuated, deeply in love; peculiar, mildly insane, crazy → US sl.
1904 ► SCRANNY crazy, mad, distracted; simple, foolish; bewildered → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1904 ► ZATHY simple, foolish → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 ► NENA simple, foolish → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1950 ► DAFFADOWN DILLY → DAFFYDOWNDILLY (also as ‘daffydown dilly’) silly, foolish, simple → rhyming sl.
1977 ► VANILLA ordinary, simple, basic → US sl.
2006 ► FUNKY → PHUNKY basic and simple; earthy → US sl. (Bk.)
NOUNS
1374 ► SIMPLESSE absence of complexity; freedom from complications; simple character → obs. exc. arch.
1470 ► SIMPLEHEAD simpleness, ignorance → obs.
NOUNS, PERSON
(also see SIMPLETON)
L16 ► SIMPLER a simple or foolish man much given to lust → sl.
1600 ► SIMPLICIAN → SIMPLITIAN a simple, ignorant, or innocent person; a simpleton → obs.
1633 ► SIMPLICITY a simple person; a simpleton
M18 ► CUNNINGHAM ironically, a simple fellow → colloq.
M18 ► MR. CUNNINGHAM a simple fellow → colloq.
E19 ► QUEER PUT an odd, simple person → sl.
1820 ► CUNNINGBERRY → CUNNINGBURY a simple fellow → colloq.
1825 ► GOVUS a simple, stupid person → Sc.
1854 ► VERIGREEN a very simple or gullible person → US sl.
1887 ► SIMPLICITY a simple or ingenuous child
1894 ► DODUNK a stupid, simple person; a blockhead → Amer. dial.
1902 ► JACK A NODS a simple, stupid fellow → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 ► UNCO BODY a simple, unimportant person → Sc. (Bk.)
1930 ► COUNTRY JACK a rustic, a countrified person; a simple fellow → Amer. dial.
1930 ► JACK a rustic, a countrified person; a simple fellow → Amer. dial.
1940 ► POON a simple or foolish person → sl., chiefly Aust., derogatory
1990 ► PONDLIFE term used to describe someone seen as unintelligent, simple → sl.
Lexicophilia 