A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1562-1600, 1678
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Simplicity, -ie, n. Also: simplysitie. [ME symplicite (Chaucer), -ycyte (Trevisa), e.m.E. simplicite (1526), -icitie (1553), F. simplicité (c1120 in Larousse), L. simplicitāt-.]
1. Freedom from artifice, duplicity or deceit; ingenuousness; honesty; straightforwardness. = Simpilnes n. 1. Cf. Simpill adj. 1. 1562-3 Winȝet I 6/2.
Geue thir thingis maiste speciall throw ignorance … be brocht fra thair puritie quhate maruell is it that materis of les pryce … in sobrietie and learnit simplicitie lesum, to be at this tyme corruptit? 1562-3 Winȝet I 77 heading.
Of calumnious alleging of Papistrie, and lesum simplicitie 1562-3 Winȝet I 78/26.
For our simplicitie in godlines, humill iugement and submissioun of our selfis to the iugement of the haly Catholik Kirk 1563 Reg. Privy C. I 250.
His indiscretioun … fylis the Quenis Grace simplicity c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii 27.
Hipocrasie, vaine glore and pryde Now blawis thair bugillis … Simplysitie is sett on syde a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS 50/44.
I luif na thing bot pure simplicitie And to dissemble man my tung asyle 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xxiv § 3 (1678) 517.
To confess the truth, in its fulness, and simplicity
2. Lowliness, humbleness. = Simpilnes n. 2. Cf. Simpill adj. 2. 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii 365.
To ȝow, my commouns, quhat mair can I say? … Johne, ga ȝour way, … ȝe suld ȝour ground grube with simplicitie, And mak ȝour claiths conforme to ȝour degre
3. Lack of knowledge or judgment; ignorance; foolishness. = Simpilnes n. 3. Cf. Simpill adj. 7.Quot. 1573 may belong in senses 1 or 2 above. a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitland Folio MS 56/29.
Treuth is iugeit barnelie simplicitie 1573 Criminal Trials I ii 42.
He aucht to gif the samin, in respect of the natour of the caus and simplicitie of the woman 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 117/7.
The young men quha … be simplicitie and ouer facil credulitie var deceauit be sum mischant apostatis 1594 St Madoes Kirk Sess. Rec in J. M. Thomson Public Records of Scotland (1922) 133.
That the man was an idiot and nocht of wit and judgement to govern himself and the woman … had coght him in his simplicitie
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"Simplicity n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/simplicity>
