Etymologically
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sincere

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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