English → Latin
“plainness” in Latin
perspicuitāstransparency, clarity; perspicuityēvidēnsapparent, visible, evident, manifest, plain, clearlūxlight (of the sun, stars etc.); daylight, day, moonlight; lifesimplexsingle; simple, plain, uncompounded; pure, unmixedsimplicitāssimplicity; plainness, frankness, openness; innocence, honesty, candor, integrityēlegānsfine, elegant, handsome; tasteful; fastidious, critical
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
plainness
Clearness, perspicuitas (to the sight or mind): evidentia, lux (to the mind; ☞ In Tac., Dial., 23, 6, plenitas [not planitas] sententiarum is the correct reading; Vid: Ruperti in loc.): plainness and agreeableness of voice, splendor vocis (☞ but splendor verborum is = beauty of expression; Vid: Cic., Brut., 49, 164, and Plin., Ep., 7, 9, 2): plainness and correctness of style, elegantia (Cic., De Or., 3, 10, 39).
Simplicity, want of ornament, by the adjective, simplex, etc.
Frankness, honesty, simplicitas; or by the adjectives.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for plainness?
- The usual Latin words for “plainness” are perspicuitās, ēvidēns, lūx; also simplex, simplicitās, ēlegāns. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.