simperer (simperer)

[ Doffing his cap to city dame, Who smiled and blush'd for pride and shame; And well the simperer might be vain He chose the fairest of the train. simple single, singular, simultaneous, etc., from the same ult. root. Hence ult. simplicity, simpli fy.] I. a. 1. Without parts, either absolutely, or of a special kind alone considered; elementary; uncompounded: as, a simple substance; a simple concept; a simple distortion. For compound sweet forgoing simple savour. Shak ., Sonnets, cxxv. A prime and simple E ence, vncompounded. Heywood, Hierarchy of Angels, p. 75. Among substances some are called simple , some are compound, whether the words be taken in a philosophical or vulgar sense. Watts , Logic, I. ii. § 2. Belief, however simple a thing it appears at first sight, is really a highly composite state of mind. J. Sully , Sensation and Intuition, p. 74. 2. Having few parts; free from complexity or complication; uninvolved; not elaborate; not modified. Hence - ( a ) Rudimentary; low in the scale of organization, as an animal or a plant. Compare defs. 10, 11. Neverthele , low and simple forms will long endure if well fitted for their simple conditions of life. Darwin, Origin of Species, p. 134. (b) Without elaborate and rich ornamentation; not loaded with extrinsic details; plain; beautiful, if at all, in its e ential parts and their relations. IMG:content-1091.png:[blocks in formation] If we could contrive to be not too unobtrusively our simple selves, we should be the most delightful of human beings, and the most original. Lowell , Study Windows, p. 69. 3. Plain in dre , manner, or deportment; hence, making no pretense; unaffected; una uming; unsophisticated; artle ; sincere. With that com the kynge Loot and his knyghtes down the medowes alle on foote, and hadde don of theire helmes from theire heedes and valed theire coiffes of mayle vpon theire sholderes, and com full symple. Merlin (E. E. T. Š.), iii. 478. She sobre was, ek symple , and wyse withalle, The best ynori ed ek that myghte be. Chaucer, Troilus, v. 820. Arthur. neither wore on helm or shield The golden symbol of his kinglihood, But rode a simple knight among his knights. Tennyson, Coming of Arthur. 4. Of little value or importance; insignificant; trifling. Thei were so astoned with the hete of the fier that theire deffence was but symple. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), i. 116. For the ill turn that thou hast done 'Tis but a simple fee. Robin Hood and the Beggar (Child's Ballads, V. 200). Great floods have flown From simple sources. Shak., All's Well, ii. 1. 143. Scott, L. of the L., v. 21. 5. Without rank; lowly; humble; poor. simpering (sim'per-ing), p. a. [Verbal n. of simper, simper, v.] Wearing or acc or companied by a simper; hence, affected; silly. Mr. Legality is a cheat; and for his Civility, not withstanding his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progre , i. Smiling with a simpring grace. Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 29. Forming his features into a set smile, and affectedly soft. ening his voice, he added, with a simpering air, "Have you been long in Bath, Madam?" Jane Austen , North anger Abbey, iii. simperingly (sim'per-ing-li), adv . In a simpering manner; affectedly. A march ant's wife, that. she were besmeared. lookes as simperingly as if Nashe, Pierce Penile e, p. 21.