simplificere

Simplificere is a verb used in Danish and Norwegian to mean to make something simpler or to reduce complexity. In everyday Danish and Norwegian, the more common verb for this idea is forenkle, but simplificere appears in technical, academic, and mathematical contexts where a more formal register is desired.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin simplificare, meaning to make simple, passing into Scandinavian languages through Romance and English influence. It is cognate with English simplify, German vereinfachen, French simplifier, and Italian semplificare, reflecting a shared structuring of the idea across languages.

Usage: In mathematics, simplifying means reducing an expression to its simplest form, such as reducing a fraction or combining terms; in science and logic, it involves presenting a concept in its essential components; in computing and education, it can refer to removing unnecessary steps or details to improve clarity or efficiency. The word also appears in legal or policy writing when procedures or texts are made easier to understand.

In modern usage, simplificere is most common in formal or technical writing, while everyday speech tends to favor forenkle. The term appears in dictionaries and style guides covering Danish and Norwegian, helping to distinguish formal simplification from more casual phrasing.

See also: Simplification, Forenkling.