Where does “simple” come from?

simple (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Norwegian Bokmål simpel, from Latin simplex, from Latin -plex, from Latin plicō, from Proto-Indo-European pleḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

simple (Norwegian Bokmål): definite singular of simpel; plural of simpel

Definitions

  1. definite singular of simpel; plural of simpel

Ancestry of “simple”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmålsimpelsimple
2Latinsimplexsingle; simple, plain, uncompounded; pure,...
3Latin-plex-fold
4Latinplicōto fold, bend or flex; to roll up
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpleḱ-to fold, plait, weave
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pleḱ- →Every word from Latin plicō →