Sim·ple a. [Compar. Simpler superl. Simplest.]
 1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.
 2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. “Simple truth.” --Spenser. “His simple story.” --Burns.
 3. Mere; not other than; being only.
 A medicine . . . whose simple touch
 Is powerful to araise King Pepin.   --Shak.
 4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.
    Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them.   --Marston.
    Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue?   --Byron.
    To be simple is to be great.   --Emerson.
 5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward.
    In simple manners all the secret lies.   --Young.
 6. Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.
 7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. “You have simple wits.”
    The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going.   --Prov. xiv. 15.
 8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living.
    Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights.   --Cowper.
 9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished.
    A simple husbandman in garments gray.   --Spenser.
    Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire.   --Fuller.
 10. BOt. Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.
 11. Chem. Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies.  Cf. Ultimate, a.
 Note: ☞ A simple body is one that has not as yet been decomposed. There are indications that many of our simple elements are still compound bodies, though their actual decomposition into anything simpler may never be accomplished.
 12. Min. Homogenous.
 13. Zool. Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound.
 Simple contract Law, any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. --J. W. Smith. --Chitty.
 Simple equation Alg., an equation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the first degree.
 Simple eye Zool., an eye having a single lens; -- opposed to compound eye.
 Simple interest. See under Interest.
 Simple larceny. Law See under Larceny.
 Simple obligation Rom. Law, an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or is not to become void on the happening of any such event. --Burrill.
 Syn: -- Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise.
 Usage: Simple, Silly. One who is simple is sincere, unaffected, and inexperienced in duplicity, -- hence liable to be duped. A silly person is one who is ignorant or weak and also self-confident; hence, one who shows in speech and act a lack of good sense. Simplicity is incompatible with duplicity, artfulness, or vanity, while silliness is consistent with all three. Simplicity denotes lack of knowledge or of guile; silliness denotes want of judgment or right purpose, a defect of character as well as of education.
 I am a simple woman, much too weak
 To oppose your cunning.   --Shak.
    He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion.   --Law.


 In·ter·est, n.
 1. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern; a desire to learn more about a topic or engage often in an activity.
 Note: ☞ Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting.
    So much interest have I in thy sorrow.   --Shak.
 2. Finance, Commerce Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks.
 3. Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit.
    Divisions hinder the common interest and public good.   --Sir W. Temple.
    When interest calls of all her sneaking train.   --Pope.
 4. Finance A fee paid for the use of money; a fee paid for a loan; -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars.
 They have told their money, and let out
 Their coin upon large interest.   --Shak.
 5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered.
    You shall have your desires with interest.   --Shak.
 6. The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest.
 Compound interest, interest, not only on the original principal, but also on unpaid interest from the time it fell due.
 Simple interest, interest on the principal sum without interest on overdue interest.

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 simple interest
      n : interest paid on the principal alone