Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Simpliciter, adv. Also: simplisiter, sympliciter. [e.m.E. simpliciter (1570), L. simpliciter simply f. simplex simple.]

1. Simply, without qualification or condition being placed upon the event described; without further restriction; utterly, absolutely. a. Modifying an action or state required (freq. by a legal decree, etc.) to take place. b. Modifying the decree, letters, etc., indicating that the action required by the decree, etc. is to happen in this fashion. Cf. Simpilly adv. 5.a. (1) 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 8.
Be vertew of ane act [etc.] … and letteris rasit thairupon … it apperis ordanit that the keping of the said place sall cease simpliciter 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 391.
I sall caus him cum and put him in the quenis grace will sympliciter c1575 Balfour Pract. 188.
Gif he failȝeis to compeir, letteris may be direct simpliciter 1579 Acts III 153/1. 1590 St. A. Kirk S. 689.
The said Alane denyit the dilatioun simpliciter in all heidis thairof c1598 Bk. Carlaverock I 304.
I am content to refere my selfe simpliciter in your Majestie's wille 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 54.
The said persewar being personallie present past simpliciter fra the said Hew Sinclair and producit the witnessis underwrittin(2) 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 176.
I suld be simpliciter absolvit fra the ballis acclamit be Johne Armedo 1570 Elgin Rec. I 124.
That all personis … within this brucht be simpliciter dischairgeit off ony barking of nolt ledder without speciall leceance 1639 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXI 130.
I frielie discharge whyt clame and simplisiter exoner the said Johne c1650 Spalding II 97.
The Houss of Commouns intending to haue thame [sc. bishops] simpliciter abolishit 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 93.
That all [swine] … fund upon the streets … shall be simpliciter confiscat to the use of the lockman of the city 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X 262.
Such [town officers] as shall transgress there orders shall be simpliciter deposedb. 1547 Aberd. B. Rec. I 250.
Decernit be decreit of court simpliciter to cause feche the cornis of thair said croftis to the tovnis … millis 1559–60 Soc. Ant. XI 520.
Your lordships will direct lettres simpliciter on hir to that effect or at the lest lettres to poind hir landis and gudis 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 473.
Letters simpliciter wer direct chargeing Walter Abbat of Kynlos … to exhibeit and produce … the said sowme

2. Simply, merely, only. Cf. Simpilly adv. 5 b. 1587 Montrose Baillie Ct. fol. 14b.
The said M^r anserit that he compeirit no wayis as procuratour nor hauing mandat nor curatour bot simpliciter as ane schireff 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 27.
[In the Isles] mariageis contractit for certane yeiris simpliciter dischairgit and the committaris thairof haldin … as fornicatouris

3. Simpliciter et pure. = Simpilly adv. 8.