oversimplifying
|o-ver-sim-pli-fy-ing|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊvərˈsɪmplɪˌfaɪɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˌəʊvəˈsɪmplɪˌfaɪɪŋ/
(oversimplify)
excessively simple
Etymology
Etymology Information
'oversimplify' originates from the prefix 'over-' meaning 'excessively' and the verb 'simplify' from Latin 'simplificare', where 'simplex' meant 'simple' and 'facere' meant 'to make'.
Historical Evolution
'simplificare' transformed into the French word 'simplifier', and eventually became the modern English word 'simplify'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to make simple', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to make excessively simple'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
to simplify something to such an extent that a distorted impression is given.
By oversimplifying the issue, he missed the nuances.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45