sincere

Forms

sincērē (comparative sincērius, superlative sincērissimē)^[1][2][3] The comparative is found in Gellius and the superlative in Augustine.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin sincērus (“whole, sound, pure”) + -ē.^[1][2][4] De Vaan sets out sincērus as possibly from Proto-Italic *sm-kair/so- (“whole, intact”), with a query on its Indo-European form.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it in the Epidicus in a physical sense, of seeing soundly: satin ego oculis utilitatem optineo sincere an parum? (“do I have proper use of my eyes, or not?”).^[1][2][6] Ennius uses it of sounding true: angry and flattering people alike say nothing that rings true.^[1][2]

Semantic evolution

Its usual classical sense is moral: “without falsehood, honestly, sincerely”.^[1][7] Terence has a thing said sincerely,^[1][6] Catullus writes facite ut id sincere dicat et ex animo (“see that this is said sincerely, from the heart”),^[1][6] and Cicero, Caesar and Livy use it of speaking, declaring and seeking peace in good faith.^[1][2] Valerius Maximus uses it of governors who administered their provinces honestly.^[1][6]

British medieval writers used it for “clearly, distinctly”, for “truly, without deceit”, and for single-minded devotion, of thinking of God or keeping a marriage bond faithfully.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of seeing soundly.^[1][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of words that ring true.^[1][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a thing said sincerely.^[1][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of speaking honestly.^[1][4]
• c. 165 AD – Aulus Gellius has the comparative sincerius.^[2][4]
• 354–430 AD – Augustine has the superlative sincerissime.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Soundly, without physical impairment; clearly.^[1][3]
2. Truly, honestly, sincerely, without falsehood.^[1][7]
3. (Medieval Latin) Single-mindedly, with undivided devotion.^[8]

Usage notes

Sincere sonare “to ring true” is taken from the sound of a vessel without a flaw.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
3. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ a b c d Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
7. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press