Etymology dictionary

Silas — sincere (adj.)

Silas

masc. proper name, from Late Latin, from Greek Silas, contraction of Silouanos, transliteration of Latin Silvanus, a name that literally means "living in the woods," from silva "wood" (see sylvan).

silage (n.)

"fodder for cattle packed in a silo," 1884, alteration (probably by influence of silo) of ensilage.

silence (v.)

1560s, intransitive, "become still or silent;" 1590s, transitive, "make silent, restrain from speech or noise," from silence (n.). Related: Silenced; silencing.

silence (n.)

c. 1200, "muteness, state of being or keeping silent, a forbearing from speech or utterance," from Old French silence "state of being silent; absence of sound or noise," from Latin silentium "a being silent," from silens, present participle of silere "be quiet or still," a word of unknown origin.

The meaning "absence of sound" in English is from late 14c. The meaning "absence of mention" is from 1570s. Silence is golden (1831) is Carlyle's translation ["Sartor Resartus"] of part of the "Swiss Inscription" Sprechen ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden.

silencer (n.)

c. 1600, "person who silences," agent noun from silence (v.). Attested from 1886 as "device to keep a door from slamming;" the meaning "mechanism that stifles the sound of a gas motor or other machinery" is by 1892; by 1901 in reference to attachments for firearms to deaden the report.

silently (adv.)

"without speech or noise," 1560s, from silent (adj.) + -ly (2).

silent (adj.)

c. 1500, "without speech, not speaking," from Latin silentem (nominative silens) "still, calm, quiet," present participle of silere "be quiet or still" (see silence (n.)). The meaning "free from noise or sound" is from 1580s.

Of letters in a word, "not sounded or pronounced," c. 1600. In the looser sense of "of few words," by 1840. In reference to films without recorded sound, 1914.

The phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of "mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).

In Victorian use, the phrase meant "the dead" (by 1874; compare Roman use of the noun plural of "silent" to mean "the dead"). In one 14c. text, the Latin phrase meaning "one who is silent" is translated by a beere stille.

Silenus

1710, from Latin, from Greek Seilenos, in Greek mythology the foster-father of Bacchus and leader of the satyrs; the name is of unknown origin (Klein compares Thracian zilai "wine").

Silesia

former eastern German province, since 1945 a part of Poland, from Latinized form of German Schlesien (Polish Śląsk), from the name of a river and a mountain there, from Silingi or Silingae, name of a Vandalic (Germanic) people who supposedly had a religious center at the mountain. Related: Silesian.

In reference to cloth imported from there from 1670s, especially "a thin cotton cloth, commonly twilled, used for linings for women's dresses and men's garments." The Silesian Wars were the three waged by Frederick the Great of Prussia against Austria over Silesia between 1740 and 1763.

silhouette (n.)

"portrait in black showing the profile," 1798, from French silhouette, in reference to Étienne de Silhouette (1709-1767), French minister of finance in 1759. The usual reason given is that it was an inexpensive way to make a likeness of someone, and thus the name was a derisive reference to Silhouette's petty economies, unpopular among the nobility, to finance France during the Seven Years' War. But other theories refer it to Silhouette's brief tenure in office or a story that he decorated his chateau with such portraits, or:

The word was used of any sort of dark outline or shadow in profile from 1843; as "contour of a garment" by 1920. The verb is recorded from 1876, from the noun.

The family name is a Frenchified form of a Basque surname; Arnaud de Silhouette, the finance minister's father, was from Biarritz in the French Basque country; the southern Basque form of the name would be Zuloeta or Zulueta, which contains the suffix -eta "abundance of" and zulo "hole" (possibly here meaning "cave").

silicic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to silica," 1817, from silica + -ic.

silicate (n.)

"salt of a silicic acid," 1811, from silica + -ate (3).

silica (n.)

"hard silicon dioxide," 1801, Modern Latin, from Latin silex (genitive silicis) "flint, pebble," on model of alumina, soda.

silicone (n.)

coined 1863 in German from silico-, combining form indicating the presence of silicon, + -one.

silicon (n.)

nonmetallic element, 1817, coined by British chemist Thomas Thomson from silica (silicon dioxide), from which it was isolated. The name is patterned on carbon, etc. Silicon chip is attested from 1965; Silicon Valley for the Santa Clara Valley near San Francisco is attested by 1974, in reference to the concentration there of manufacturers of silicon chips used in computers, watches, etc.

silicosis (n.)

"lung disease caused by inhalation of particles of flint," 1881, a hybrid from silicon + -osis.

silk (n.)

"fine soft thread produced by the larvae of certain types of moths, feeding on mulberry leaves;" c. 1300, silke, from Old English seoloc, sioloc "silk, silken cloth," from Latin sericum "silk," plural serica "silken garments, silks," literally "Seric stuff," neuter of Sericus, from Greek Serikos "pertaining to the Sēres," an oriental people of Asia from whom the Greeks got silks. Their region is vaguely described but seems to correspond to northern China as approached from the northwest.

Western cultivation began 552 C.E., when agents from Byzantium impersonating monks smuggled silkworms and mulberry leaves out of China. Chinese si "silk," Manchurian sirghe, Mongolian sirkek have been compared to this and the people-name Seres in Greek might be a rendering via Mongolian of the Chinese word for "silk," but this is uncertain.

Cognate with Old Norse silki but the word is not found elsewhere in Germanic. The more common Germanic form is represented by Middle English say, from Old French seie, which, with Spanish seda, Italian seta, Dutch zijde, and German Seide, is from Medieval Latin seta "silk," which is perhaps elliptical for seta serica, or else a particular use of seta "bristle, hair" (see seta (n.)).

According to some sources [Buck, OED], the use of -l- instead of -r- in the Balto-Slavic form of the word (Old Church Slavonic šelku, Lithuanian šilkai) passed into English via the Baltic trade and may reflect a Chinese dialectal form, or a Slavic alteration of the Greek word. But the Slavic linguist Vasmer dismisses that, based on the initial sh- in the Slavic words, and suggests the Slavic words are from Scandinavian rather than the reverse.

As an adjective from mid-14c. In reference to the "hair" of corn, 1660s, American English (corn-silk is from 1861). The ancient Silk Road was so called in English by 1895.

silken (adj.)

Old English seolcen "made of silk;" see silk + -en (2). The meaning "silk-like, soft and glossy" is from 1510s.

silky (adj.)

1610s, "made of or consisting of silk," from silk + -y (2). By 1670s as "soft and smooth as silk." Related: Silkily; silkiness. Middle English had silki-werk "silken embroidery" (c. 1400).

silk screen (n.)

"a screen of silk," especially used in printing, 1930; see silk + screen (n.). By 1977 as "a silk-screen print." The verb, also silkscreen, is attested by 1961. Related: Silkscreened.

silk-stocking (adj.)

"wearing or favoring silken hose," 1590s, from silk stocking (n.) "stocking made of silk" (1590s); see silk + stocking (n.). From the first they were symbols of extravagance, and in America after the Revolution silk stockings, especially worn by men, were regarded as reprehensible, indicative of luxurious habits.

silkworm (n.)

"larva of a silk-producing moth," Old English seolcwyrm; see silk + worm (n.).

sill (n.)

Middle English sille, from Old English syll "beam, threshold, large timber serving as a foundation of a wall," from Proto-Germanic *suljo (source also of Old Norse svill, Swedish syll, Danish syld "framework of a building," Middle Low German sull, Old High German swelli, German Schwelle "sill"), perhaps from PIE root *swel- (3) "post, board" (source also of Greek selma "beam").

The meaning "lower horizontal part of a window opening" is recorded from early 15c.; extended to the lower part of the case or frame of a door by 1590s. Used in geology in reference to certain types of rock beds or layers from 1794.

sillabub (n.)

also sillibub, syllabub, sullibib, sillie bube, etc., "a drink or dish of raw milk and wine or cider, often sweetened," 1530s, a word of unknown origin. The figurative sense of "floridly vapid prose" is from 1706.

silly (adj.)

Middle English seli, seely, from Old English gesælig "happy, fortuitous, prosperous" (related to sæl "happiness"), from Proto-Germanic *sæligas (source also of Old Norse sæll "happy," Old Saxon salig, Middle Dutch salich, Old High German salig, German selig "blessed, happy, blissful," Gothic sels "good, kindhearted").

The word's considerable sense development moved it by various streams from "happy" through "blessed;" "pious;" "innocent" (c. 1200), to "harmless," to "pitiable" (late 13c.), "weak" (c. 1300), to "feeble in mind, lacking in reason, foolish" (1570s).

There may be a further specialization toward "stunned, dazed as by a blow" (1886) as in knocked silly, etc. As a noun, "a silly person," by 1858 in writing for children.

Silly season in journalistic slang is from 1861 (in reference to August and September, when newspapers compensate for a lack of hard news by filling up with trivial stories). The trademark for the toy Silly Putty claims use from July 1949. Sillyism "a silly statement or utterance" is from 1706.

silliness (n.)

"foolishness, senselessness, weakness of understanding, absurd folly," c. 1600, from silly + -ness; a reformation of earlier seeliness, from Old English saelignes "happiness, (good) fortune, occurrence," which was formed from the same elements.

sillily (adv.)

"in a foolish or absurd manner," 1620s, from silly + -ly (2).

silo (n.)

1835, "a pit in the ground or a cavity in rock for storage of green crops," often in reference to other countries, and the word in English is explained at first, from Spanish silo, traditionally derived from Latin sirum (nominative sirus), from Greek siros "a pit to keep corn in." "The change from r to l in Spanish is abnormal and Greek siros was a rare foreign term peculiar to regions of Asia Minor and not likely to emerge in Castilian Spain" [Barnhart]. Alternatively, the Spanish word is from a pre-Roman Iberian language word represented by Basque zilo, zulo "dugout, cave or shelter for keeping grain."

By 1867 in reference to airtight above-ground cylindrical structures for storing crops. The meaning "underground housing and launch tube for a guided missile" is attested from 1958.

Siloam

pool and spring outside Jerusalem (John ix.7), from Late Latin, from New Testament Greek, from Hebrew shiloach, literally "sending forth," from shalach "to send."

silphium (n.)

modern plant genus, 1771, Latin, taken by botanists from Greek Silphion, the name of a North African Mediterranean plant whose identity has been lost, the gum or juice of which was prized by the ancients as a condiment and a medicine. Probably the word is ultimately of African origin.

silt (v.)

1799, intransitive, "to become choked with silt" (of river channels, harbors, etc.), usually with up (adv.); by 1825 in the intransitive sense of "choke, fill, or obstruct with silt;" from silt (n.). Related: Silted; silting.

silt (n.)

mid-15c., "fine sand or sediment deposited by seawater," probably from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian and Danish sylt "salt marsh," Old Swedish sylta "mud"), or from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch silte, sulte "salt marsh, brine," from Proto-Germanic *sultjo- (source also of Old English sealt, Old High German sulza "saltwater," German Sulze "brine"), from PIE root *sal- "salt."

The general sense of "mud or fine soil from running or standing water" is by 1690s.

Silurian (adj.)

1708, "pertaining to the Silures," the ancient British tribe inhabiting what now is southeast Wales, from Latin Silures. The geological use is from 1835, taken by Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871), who worked out the sequence studying rock of this period prevalent in south Wales. Originally including the Ordovician; the more restricted use is after 1879.

silvan (adj.)

see sylvan.

silver (adj.)

"made of silver," late Old English seolfor, from the noun (see silver (n.), also compare silvern). Of voices, words, etc., from 1520s in reference to the metal's pleasing resonance; silver-tongued is from 1590s. Of hair by 1580s.

The silver age (1560s) was a phrase used by Greek and Roman poets. A silver fox is a North American variety of the common red fox with silver-tipped black hair. A silver spoon in the literal sense is attested from late 15c.; see spoon (n.). The old figurative expression fish with a silver hook is attested from c. 1600.

silver (n.)

"rare white metal, harder than gold, softer than copper, valued for its luster and malleability," Middle English silver, from Old English seolfor, Mercian sylfur, Northumbrian sulfer, "the metal silver; silver coin, money," from Proto-Germanic *silabur- (source also of Old Saxon silvbar, Old Frisian selover, Old Norse silfr, Middle Dutch silver, Dutch zilver, Old High German silabar, German silber "silver; money," Gothic silubr "silver"), which is of uncertain origin.

It seems to be Germanic/Balto-Slavic (source also of Old Church Slavonic s(u)rebo, Russian serebro, Polish srebro, Lithuanian sidabras "silver"), but has long been presumed to be a Wanderwort (a loan-word that has spread among several languages) displacing the usual IE word for the metal (represented by Latin argentum; see argent).

Basque zilharr "silver" usually is considered a loan-word from West Germanic, but the Germanic form lately has been compared to old Celtic words used in Spain, and because the rest of Celtic uses the argentum word, this suggests the borrowing might be in the other direction, and Germanic word might be from "a Hispano-Celtic innovation due to an Iberian donor language. In this connection, the old comparison of Basque zilharr is attractive" [Boutkan].

From c. 1300 as "articles, plates, etc. of silver, silverware." As a color name from late 15c. Chemical abbreviation Ag is from Latin argentum "silver."

silver (v.)

mid-14c., silveren, "cover or plate with silver," from silver (n.). Old English had beseolfrian. The meaning "tinge with gray" (of hair) is from c. 1600. Related: Silvered; silvering.

silver bullet (n.)

"a remedy which is very effective, almost magical;" see silver (adj.) + bullet (n.). The belief in the magical power of silver weapons to conquer foes goes back at least to ancient Greece (as in Delphic Oracle's advice to Philip of Macedon). In Britain, silver bullets as a superstitious countercharm figure in the fictitious Popish Plot (1678).

English folklore beliefs recorded from early 19c. held that a witch could be wounded or revealed (if transformed) only by a wound from a silver bullet. Similar fancies are reported in folk-tales from Ireland and Iceland. The belief in the killing efficacy of silver bullets was transferred to vampires by 1816.

silverfish (n.)

1703, in reference to various types of silver-colored fish (similar formation in German Silberfisch, Dutch zilvervisch); from silver (adj.) + fish (n.). In reference to a type of household insect damaging to books, wallpaper, etc. (also known as silvertail, fishtail, furniture-bug, etc.), it is attested from 1855.

silvery (adj.)

late 14c., silveri, "like silver; silver-colored," from silver (n.) + -y (2). Related: Silveriness.

silver lining (n.)

a "bright side" which proverbially accompanies even the darkest trouble; by 1843, apparently from oft-quoted lines from Milton's "Comus," where the silver lining is the light of the moon shining from behind the cloud.

Thomas Warton added the commentary: "When all succour ſeems to be lost, Heaven unexpectedly presents the ſilver lining oſ a ſable cloud to the virtuous."

silvern (adj.)

"made of or resembling silver," Middle English silveren, from Old English seolfren "made or consisting of silver;" see silver (n.) + -en (2). Similar formation in German silbern, Dutch zilveren, etc. It fell from use in English other than in poetry.

silver screen (n.)

1921, originally in reference to movie house projection screens colored with metallic paint to be more reflective. Transferred sense of "movies generally" is attested from 1924.

silversmith (n.)

"maker of silverware, one whose occupation is working in silver," Old English seolforsmiþ; see silver (n.) + smith (n.).

Silver Star

U.S. military decoration awarded for gallantry in action, originally (1918) a small badge worn on the ribbon of a campaign medal; as a distinct medal, it was established Aug. 8, 1932.

silverware

"silver articles collectively," especially articles for the table and other domestic use, 1838, American English, first in commercial advertisements, from silver (n.) + ware (n.).

sim (n.)

as a shortening of simulation (n.), by 1983.

simba

Swahili word for "lion," also figuratively "a warrior, a leader;" it enters into English writings in Africa.

Simeon

masc. proper name, Biblical second son of Jacob and Leah; also a tribe of Israel; see Simon. The Simeonites (1823) were followers of the Rev. Charles Simeon.

simian (adj.)

c. 1600, in reference to human features or qualities, "characteristic of or resembling monkeys or apes," with -ian + Latin simia "ape," from simus "snub-nosed," from Greek simos "snub-nosed" (like the Scythians), also a masculine proper name, a word of unknown origin.

In 18c. and for a time after Latin Simia was taken as the genus name of the primates, hence the biological meaning "pertaining to monkeys" (by 1863). The noun meaning "an ape or monkey" is attested from 1880.

simile (n.)

"a comparison of two things in rhetoric or poetry," late 14c., from Latin simile "a like thing; a comparison, likeness, parallel," neuter of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). They must have notable points in common, both things must be mentioned, and the comparison should be directly stated. Further, to Johnson, "A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject."

similarity (n.)

"state, quality, or condition of being similar," 1660s, from similar + -ity, or from French similarité. Related: Similarities "points of resemblance" (1838).

similar (adj.)

"having characteristics in common," 1610s (earlier similary, 1560s), from French similaire, from a Medieval Latin extended form of Latin similis "like, resembling, of the same kind," from Old Latin semol "together" (from PIE root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with"). The noun meaning "that which is similar" is from 1650s. Related: Similarly.

similitude (n.)

late 14c., "appearance, guise; quality or state of being similar; a comparison; person or thing that resembles another," from Old French similitude "similarity, relationship, comparison" (13c.) and directly from Latin similitudinem (nominative similitudo) "likeness, resemblance," from similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar).

simmer (v.)

"make a gentle hissing sound, as liquids when they begin to boil," hence "become heated gradually," especially of liquids kept just below the boiling point, 1650s, simber (the modern form is from 1680s), an alteration of simperen (late 15c., simpring "simmering," in an alchemical text), which might be imitative and is not thought to be a relative of simper (v.). OED says the sound change in this word is "probably due to a feeling of phonetic appropriateness."

The figurative sense, in reference to feelings, "be agitated or ready to boil over, be in a state of repressed excitement," is by 1764. The opposite figurative sense, in simmer down, is recorded by 1848, perhaps from the notion of reduction or moving from a full boil to a mere simmer. The literal sense of simmer down is attested from 1803, in instructions in cookery and herbal preparation. Related: Simmered; simmering. The noun meaning "a condition of simmering, a gentle, gradual, uniform heating" is by 1793 (on the simmer).

simnel (n.)

kind of sweet cake or bun made of fine flour, c. 1200, from Old French simenel "fine wheat flour; flat bread cake, Lenten cake," probably by dissimilation from Vulgar Latin *siminellus (also source of Old High German semala "the finest wheat flour," German Semmel "a roll"), a diminutive of Latin simila "fine flour" (see semolina). In England especially as a gift offered on certain holidays, but in America a type of squash.

simoleon (n.)

slang for "dollar," 1895, American English, of unknown origin. Related sambolio is attested from 1886; perhaps [OED] this was based on a deformation of Napoleon as the name of a late 19c. French gold coin. But also compare the Latin coin-names semodius "half a modius," simbella "coin worth half a libella," in which the first element is semi- (see semi-).

Simon

masc. proper name, from Latin, from Greek Symeon, from Hebrew Shim'on, literally "hearkening, hearing," from shama "he heard." In English Old Testaments usually printed as Simeon, but in the New Testament almost always as Simon. It also has been confused with the Greek masc. proper name Simōn, which is from simos "snub-nosed." The Simonians were an early Christian sect named for Simon Magus (see simony).

Alliterative Simple Simon "foolish person" is attested from 1730. The nursery rhyme about him is attested from 1841. Earlier he had been the subject of a popular chapbook, "Simple Simon's Misfortunes: Or His Wife Margery's Outrageous Cruelty."

simonize (v.)

"polish by the application of Simoniz," 1921, from Simoniz, trademark for a type of car polish invented by George Simons, who in 1910 along with Elmer Rich of the Great Northern Railway organized Simons Manufacturing Company in Chicago to sell the stuff. Rich and his brother, R.J. Rich, acquired sole ownership two years later.

simony (n.)

c. 1200, simonie, "the sin of buying or selling sacred things," from Old French simonie "selling of church offices" (12c.) and directly from Late Latin simonia, from Simon Magus, the Samaritan magician who was rebuked by Peter when he sought to buy the power of conferring the Holy Spirit (Acts viii.18-20). Related: Simonient (adj.) "guilty of simony," late 14c.

simoniac (n.)

"one guilty of simony," mid-14c., simoniak; see simony + -ac. Simoner (also simonier) "one who practices simony" is attested from c. 1400. Related: Simoniacally.

simon-pure (adj.)

"genuine, pure, authentic, true," 1815, colloquial, from the true Simon Pure "the genuine person or thing" (1795), from the name of a Quaker character who is impersonated by another character (Colonel Feignwell) as part of the comedy "A Bold Stroke for a Wife" (1717) by English dramatist and actress Susannah Centlivre. In the play, the real Simon Pure is treated as an impostor and is believed only after he has proven his identity.

simoom (n.)

"hot, dry desert wind" in the Arabian peninsula and elsewhere in that region, 1790, from Arabic samum "a sultry wind," literally "poisonous," from samma "he poisoned," from sam "poison."

simp (n.)

1903, circus slang shortening of simpleton.

simpatico (adj.)

"sympathetic, understanding, congenial," 1864 (in fem. form simpatica), from Spanish simpatico "sympathetic," from simpatia "sympathy," or from Italian simpatico, from simpatia, both ultimately from Latin sympathia (see sympathy).

simpering (adj.)

"affected, silly, that simpers," 1580s, present-participle adjective from simper (v.). Related: Simperingly.

simper (v.)

"to smile in an affected and silly way," 1560s, perhaps from a Scandinavian source (compare dialectal Danish semper "affected, coy, prudish") or Middle Dutch zimperlijk "affected, coy, prim," all of unknown origin. Related: Simpered; simpering. As a noun, "an affected smile," 1590s, from the verb.

simple (adj.)

c. 1200, "free from duplicity, upright, guileless; blameless, innocently harmless," also "ignorant, uneducated; unsophisticated; simple-minded, foolish," also as a surname, from Old French simple (12c.) "plain, decent; friendly, sweet; naive, foolish, stupid," hence also "wretched, miserable," from Latin simplus or simplex, "simple, plain, unmixed," literally "one-fold" (see simplex).

The sense evolution is from the notion of "without parts" or "having few parts," hence "free from complexity or complication." Compare the similar sense evolution of silly. The extended senses in Latin simplex were "without dissimulation, open, frank, guileless, direct, ingenuous," sometimes "too straightforward, too blunt," but Latin seems not to have had the "simple-minded" meaning.

The sense of "free from pride, humble, meek" is from mid-13c. As "consisting of only one substance or ingredient" (opposite of composite or compounded) it dates from late 14c.; as "easily done, presenting no difficulty or obstacles" (opposite of complicated) it dates from late 15c.; that sense also was in Latin.

From mid-14c. as "unqualified; mere; sheer," a sense also found in Latin; also "clear, straightforward; easily understood." From late 14c. as "single, individual; whole." From late 14c. of clothing, etc., "modest, plain, unadorned," and of food, "plain, not sumptuous." In medicine, of fractures, etc., "lacking complications," late 14c. As a law term, "lacking additional legal stipulations, unlimited," from mid-14c.

The Middle English word had senses that have been lost, including "inadequate, insufficient; weak, feeble; mere; few; sad, downcast; mournful; of little value; low in price; impoverished, destitute," and, of hair, "straight, not curly."

simple (n.)

late 14c., "an innocent or a guileless person; a humble or modest person," from simple (adj.). It is attested from c. 1500 as "ignorant people."

Also from late 14c. as "an uncompounded substance," especially "a medicinal herb or medicine," from Latin simplum (n.). Typically in plural, simples, they were so called because under the old physiology each was considered the possessor of a particular virtue and thus each constituted a simple remedy. Related: Simpler "one who gathers or prepares simples."

simpleness (n.)

late 14c., "innocence, blamelessness," also "unity, wholeness," also "absence of pride," from simple (adj.) + -ness. From late 14c. as "absence of duplicity; ignorance; absence of complexity."

Middle English also had simplesse "innocence, blamelessness; lack of pride or ostentation," from the Old French compound. Simplesse is attested in English by late 14c. as "wholeness, unity," by c. 1400 as "ignorance."

simple-minded (adj.)

"lacking intelligence or penetration, unsophisticated," 1744, from simple (adj.) + -minded. Simple (adj.) in a similar sense is from c. 1200. Middle English also had simple-hearted "timid; ingenuous, sincere." Related: Simple-mindedly; simple-mindedness.

simpleton (n.)

"person of limited or feeble intelligence," 1640s, according to OED probably a jocular formation from simple and -ton, suffix extracted from surnames (and ultimately place-names). Compare skimmington, personification of an ill-used spouse, c. 1600; OED compares idleton from the English Dialect Dictionary. Century Dictionary sees it as a French diminutive of simplet, though no such diminutive had yet turned up. Also compare the -by terminations under rudesby.

simplex (adj.)

"characterized by a single part," 1590s, from Latin simplex "single, simple, plain, unmixed, uncompounded," literally "one-fold," from PIE compound of root *sem- (1) "one; as one, together with" + *plac- "-fold," from PIE root *plek- "to plait." Compare duplex.

The noun is attested from 1892 in grammar, "simple uncompounded word," from a sense of the Latin word. Simplex munditis is a Latin phrase implying "elegantly simple."

simply (adv.)

"in a simple manner," late 14c., simpli, earlier simpleliche (late 13c.); see simple (adj.) + -ly (2). The purely intensive sense is attested from 1580s, from simple in the sense of "having no parts," hence "entire, whole, utter."

simplicity (n.)

late 14c., "singleness of nature, unity, indivisibility; immutability," from Old French simplicite (12c., Modern French simplicité), from Latin simplicitatem (nominative simplicitas) "state of being simple, frankness, openness, artlessness, candor, directness," from simplex (genitive simplicis) "simple" (see simplex).

The sense of "ignorance" is from c. 1400; that of "simplicity of expression, plainness of style" is by early 15c. Middle English also had simplesse, from French, and compare simpleness. The earliest was simplete, "lack of ostentation," c. 1200, from Old French.

simpliciter (adv.)

"not relatively; in the full sense of the word, wholly, completely," the Latin adverb from the stem of simplex "simple" (see simplex), meaning, in classical Latin, "simply, plainly, directly, straightforwardly." It was used in philosophy to translate Greek haplos.

simplification (n.)

"act or fact of making simple," 1680s, from French simplification "act or process of simplifying," from simplifier (see simplify), or else formed in English from simplify.

simplificative (adj.)

"tending to make simple or more simple," 1862, from simplification + -ive.

simplify (v.)

"make simple or simpler, reduce from complexity," 1650s, from French simplifier "to make simpler" (15c.), from Medieval Latin simplificare "to simplify," from Latin simplex "simple" (see simplex) + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").

The meaning "to make easier to do" is from 1759. The intransitive sense of "become less complex" is by 1874. Related: Simplified; simplifying.

simplism (n.)

1955, "tendency to oversimplification; a dumbing-down," from simple (adj.) + -ism. Emerson (1882) used it as "advocacy or cultivation of simplicity," hence "an affected or labored simplicity." A simplist (1590s) is one who studies simples" (see simple (n.)).

simplistic (adj.)

"simple, plain, not compound," 1844, from simple (adj.) + -istic. It is attested from 1867 as "over-simple, trying to explain too much by a single principle." Also (1860) "of or pertaining to simples," from simplist "one who studies simples" (1590s; see simple (n.)) + -ic.

simulation (n.)

mid-14c., simulacioun, "a false show, false profession," from Old French simulation "pretence" and directly from Latin simulationem (nominative simulatio) "an imitating, feigning, false show, hypocrisy," noun of action from past-participle stem of simulare "imitate," from stem of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). The meaning "a model or mock-up for purposes of experiment or training" is from 1954.

simulated (adj.)

1620s, "feigned," past-participle adjective from simulate (v.). The meaning "imitative for purposes of experiment or training" is from 1966 (the agent noun simulator in the related sense dates from 1947; also see simulation). In commercial jargon, "artificial, imitation" by 1942. The earlier adjective was simulate (mid-15c.), from Latin simulatus, past participle of simulare.

simulant (adj.)

"simulating something else," 1846, from Latin simulantem (nominative simulans), present participle of simulare "to make like, imitate, copy" from stem of similis "like, resembling" (see similar).

simulator (n.)

1835, of persons, "one who simulates or feigns" (illness, sanctity, etc.), from Latin simulator "a copier, imitator," agent noun from simulare "to make like, imitate, copy, represent," from stem of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). In reference to training devices for complex systems, from 1947 (flight simulator). Related: Simulatory.

simulative (adj.)

"characterized by pretense or simulation," late 15c., from Latin simulat-, stem of simulare "imitate" (see simulate) + -ive.

simulate (v.)

1620s, "feign, pretend, assume falsely the appearance of" (implied in simulated), a back-formation from simulation or else from Latin simulatus, past participle of simulare "to make like, imitate, copy, represent," from the stem of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). The meaning "use a model to imitate certain conditions for purposes of study or training" is from 1947. Related: Simulating.

simulacrum (n.)

1590s, "an image, that which is formed in likeness of an object," from Latin simulacrum "likeness, image, form, representation, portrait," a dissimilation of *simulaclom, from simulare "to make like, imitate, copy, represent," from the stem of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). Browne ("Urn-Burial") writes of "the ancient division of body soul and image or simulachrum of them both."

It is attested by 1805 as "something having the mere appearance of another thing," hence "a specious imitation." The word was borrowed earlier as semulacre (late 14c.), via Old French simulacre. Related: Simulacral.

simular (n.)

1520s, "one who simulates anything," irregularly formed (perhaps on the model of similar) from Latin simulare "to make like, imitate, copy, represent," from the stem of similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar). As an adjective, "simulated, assumed," from 1610s.

simulcast (v.)

"to broadcast simultaneously on radio and television," 1948, formed from simul(taneous) + (broad)cast. The noun is recorded by 1949, from the verb. Related: Simulcasting.

simultaneous (adj.)

"existing, occurring, or appearing at the same time," 1650s, from Medieval Latin simultaneus, ultimately from Latin simul "at the same time," which is related to similis "like, resembling, of the same kind" (see similar).

The Medieval Latin word is perhaps via the extended form simultim "at the same time," or from simul with ending abstracted from Late Latin spontaneus, where the -t- is organic. Related: Simultaneously. "Mark Twain" back-formed from it a verb simultane "do (something) at the same time as (something else)," 1880.

simultaneity (n.)

"state or fact of being simultaneous," 1650s; see simultaneous + -ity.

simurgh (n.)

monstrous bird, rational and ancient, in Persian mythology, 1786 ("Vathek"), from Persian simurgh, from Pahlavi sin "eagle" + murgh "bird." Compare Avestan saeno merego "eagle," Sanskrit syenah "eagle," Armenian cin "kite." The thing is probably identical with the roc (q.v.).

sin (n.)

Middle English sinne, from Old English synn, syn "violation of divine law, offense against God; moral wrongdoing," also "injury, mischief; enmity, feud; guilt, crime, misdeed," from Proto-Germanic *sundiō "sin" (source also of Old Saxon sundia, Old Frisian sende, Middle Dutch sonde, Dutch zonde, German Sünde "sin, transgression, trespass, offense," extended forms).

The notion is probably ultimately "it is true," i.e. "the sin is real" (compare Gothic sonjis, Old Norse sannr "true"), from PIE *snt-ya-, a collective form from *es-ont- "becoming," present participle of the root *es- "to be."

The semantic development would be via the notion of "to be truly the one (who is guilty)," as in Old Norse phrase verð sannr at "be found guilty of," and the use of the phrase "it is being" in Hittite confessional formula. The same process probably yielded the Latin word sons (genitive sontis) "guilty, criminal" from present participle of sum, esse "to be, that which is." Some etymologists believe the Germanic word was an early borrowing directly from the Latin genitive. Also see sooth.

The details of the purely theological definition are much contested. Sin-eater is attested from 1680s, "one who, for pay, takes on the sins of a deceased person," typically by eating certain food in the presence of the corpse. To live in sin "cohabit without marriage" is from 1838; the phrase was used since Middle English in a more general sense (to sin with has been "commit fornication or adultery with" since c. 1200). Ice hockey slang sin bin "penalty box" is attested from 1950.

sin (v.)

Middle English sinnen, from Old English syngian "to commit sin, transgress, err," from the source of synn (see sin (n.)); perhaps there was a verb in Proto-Germanic (compare Old Saxon sundion, Old Frisian sendigia, Middle Dutch sondighen, Dutch zondigen, Old High German sunteon, German sündigen "to sin"). The form was altered from earlier Middle English sunigen by influence of the noun.

sinful (adj.)

Old English synnfull "full of sin, wicked, unholy, contrary to the laws of God;" see sin (n.) + -ful. The weakened sense of "contrary to propriety or decency" is from 1863. Related: Sinfully; sinfulness.

sinning (n.)

"act or fact of committing sin; sin," mid-15c., verbal noun from sin (v.). The earlier form was sunegunge, sunehinge (mid-13c.), syngunge (late Old English).

Sinai

mountain on the peninsula in the Red Sea between Africa and Arabia, an important site in the Old Testament; it is named perhaps for Sin, a moon goddess worshipped by Sumerians, Akkadians, and ancient Arabs. The name was extended to the whole peninsula. As an adjectival form, Sinaic is by 1769, Sinaitic by 1786.

since (adv., prep., conj.)

early 15c., synnes, sinnes, a contraction of sithenes "since," from sithen (with adverbial genitive -es), from Old English siððan "afterward, from now on, hereafter, further, later, as soon as, after that," originally sið ðan "after that," from sið "after" (see sith) + ðan, weakened form of ðam, dative of ðæt (see that).

It was used from late 14c. as a conjunction, "from the time when, during the time after." As a preposition, "ever, from the time of," from 1510s; "from the time when," hence "as a consequence of the fact that." The modern spelling replaced syns, synnes 16c. to indicate a voiceless final -s- sound. The meaning "before now, ago," with some specifying word or phrase (long since, etc.) is from late 15c. Since when?, often expressing incredulity, is attested from 1907.

sincerity (n.)

early 15c., sincerite, "honesty, genuineness," from Old French sinceritie (early 16c., Modern French sincérité) and directly from Latin sinceritatem (nominative sinceritas) "purity, soundness, wholeness," from sincerus "whole, clean, uninjured," figuratively "sound, genuine, pure, true, candid, truthful" (see sincere).

sincere (adj.)

1530s, "pure, unmixed, unadulterated;" also "free from pretense or falsehood," from French sincere (16c.), from Latin sincerus, of things, "whole, clean, pure, uninjured, unmixed," figuratively "sound, genuine, pure, true, candid, truthful" (unadulterated by deceit), a word of uncertain origin.

There has been a temptation to see the first element as Latin sine "without." But there is no etymological justification for the common story that the word means "without wax" (*sin cerae), which is dismissed out of hand by OED, Century Dictionary ("untenable"), and others, and the stories invented to justify that folk etymology are even less plausible. Watkins has it as originally "of one growth" (i.e. "not hybrid, unmixed"), from PIE *sm-ke-ro-, from *sem- "one" (see same) + root of crescere "to grow" (from PIE root *ker- (2) "to grow"). De Vaan finds plausible a source in a lost adjective *caerus "whole, intact," from a PIE root meaning "whole."