13. (Zoöl.) 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 (Zoöl.), 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. -- 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.