plain (adj.) Copy link Outline I. Unadorned1. pressus (of style; curtailed of all redundancy or ornament)2. subtīlis, e (a term frequent in critical lang., and denoting the precise, unadorned, unambitious style suitable to narration or argument)3. tĕnuis (like subtilis)4. simplex5. incomptus (absolutely unadorned, having no attention paid to person or style)6. pūrus (of gold or silver work; not chased or otherwise wrought)II. Clear, without obscurity1. ăpertus2. plānus (presenting no difficulties; whereas apertus indicates the prima facie obviousness of a thing)3. perspĭcuus, clārus, etc.4. explĭcātus (like planus)III. Frank, outspoken1. simplex, ĭcis2. sincērusIV. Of diet, not mixed • plain (adj.): I. Unadorned: 1. pressus (of style; curtailed of all redundancy or ornament): in diction, narrative is mostly p., verbis narratio saepius pr. est, Quint. 9, 4, 134: cf. id. 10, 2, 16, fiunt pro grandibus tumidi, pressis exiles (i. e. instead of p., they are jejune): also, Cic. de Or. 2, 13, 56: Plin. min. 2. subtīlis, e (a term frequent in critical lang., and denoting the precise, unadorned, unambitious style suitable to narration or argument): Quint. 12, 10, 58, sqq.: also, Cic. Or. 23, 78, haec subtilis oratio, quasi incompta, delectat): Join: subtilis [quaedam] et pressa oratio, Cic. Or. 5, extr. 3. tĕnuis (like subtilis): Join: tenuis atque inornatus, ib. 9, 29. 4. simplex: v. simple. (Cf. Hor. Od. 1, 5, 5, simplex munditiis, "plain in thy neatness," Milt.) 5. incomptus (absolutely unadorned, having no attention paid to person or style): Cic.: Quint. (v. supr. 2). 6. pūrus (of gold or silver work; not chased or otherwise wrought): p. silver (plate), argentum p., Cic. Verr. 4, 22, 49: Juv. Phr.: his style of dress was neat but p., *in vestitu decori studiosus erat sed extra omnes elegantias munditiasque. II. Clear, without obscurity: 1. ăpertus: v. obvious, manifest. Join: tam apertum tamque perspicuum, Cic. N. D. 2, 2, init. 2. plānus (presenting no difficulties; whereas apertus indicates the prima facie obviousness of a thing): to make anything abundantly p. to any one, aliquid cumulate p. facere alicui, Cic. Verr. 5, 64, init.: Plin. 3. perspĭcuus, clārus, etc.: v. clear, evident, perspicuous. 4. explĭcātus (like planus): an easy and p. case, causa facilis et ex., Cic. Plan. 2, 5. III. Frank, outspoken: 1. simplex, ĭcis: a trifle too p. (and blunt), simplicior, Hor. S. 1, 3, 63: p. words, s. verba, Suet. Tib. 61, med. 2. sincērus: v. sincere. Phr.: you have been so exceedingly p. with me! ita aperte ipsam rem locutus, nil circuitione usus es! Ter. Andr. 1, 2, 31: I and you are perfectly p. with each other, ego ac tu simplicissime inter nos loquimur, Tac. H. 1, 15, fin.: v. plainly. IV. Of diet, not mixed: simplex: p. food, s. esca, Hor. S. 2, 2, 73: Plin.: cf. Suet. Aug. 76 (cibus vulgaris).