I. In gen., simpleness, simplicity (not freq. till after the Aug. period, esp. in the signif. II.; not found in Cic.; cf.: “candor, sinceritas): sunt solida primordia simplicitate,” Lucr. 1, 609 sq.; so id. 1, 574; 2, 157: “indigesta (ligni),” i. e. plainness, straightness of grain, Plin. 13, 15, 30, § 97.—
II. In partic., in a moral sense, plainness, frankness, openness, artlessness, innocence, honesty, candor, simplicity, directness, ingenuousness, naturalness, etc.: “juvenis incauti,” Liv. 40, 23: “puerilis,” id. 40, 8; Vell. 2, 10, 3; 2, 43, 3 al.; Plin. 35, 10, 36, § 70; Ov. H. 2, 64; id. Am. 2, 4, 18: “sermo antiquae simplicitatis,” Liv. 40, 47: “vir simplicitatis generosissimae,” of the noblest honesty, candor, Vell. 2, 125 fin.: “prudens,” Mart. 10, 47, 7: “Romana,” id. 11, 21, 10 : “callidissima simplicitatis imitatio,” Quint. 4, 2, 57: “rarissima,” Ov. A. A. 1, 242 al.: “vitii,” Quint. 11, 1, 21; 9, 4, 20.
