simplex
UK[ˈsɪmplɛks]US[ˈsɪm.plɛks]
adj
Composed of or characterized by a single part or structure; not complex or compound.
n
A simple or uncompounded thing, especially a basic geometric figure or a mathematical expression.
Etymology
The word 'simplex' entered English in the late 16th century as a direct borrowing from Latin, where 'simplex' (genitive 'simplicis') means "single, simple, plain." The Latin term itself is a compound of 'semel' ("once, a single time") and the root '-plex' (from 'plicare', "to fold"). Thus, its literal sense is "once-folded," implying something not folded multiple times and therefore uncomplicated. This etymological logic of "single-folded" evolved from a concrete description to the modern abstract meanings of "basic" or "uncompounded" in geometry, mathematics, and general terminology.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form borrowed directly from Latin. It is not productively segmented in modern English.
Examples
The simplex method is a standard algorithm for solving linear programming problems.
In topology, a simplex is a generalization of the notion of a triangle or tetrahedron to arbitrary dimensions.
The design followed a simplex principle, avoiding any unnecessary complexity.