Etymologically
Log in

sinceritas

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 21:27. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sɪŋˈkeː.rɪ.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [sin̠ʲˈt͡ʃɛː.ri.tas][1]

Forms

sincēritās f (genitive sincēritātis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sincerus (“clean, pure, whole”) + -tās.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Phaedrus says honesty usually leads to ruin.[2] Valerius Maximus speaks of a man sure of his own integrity, and Köbler dates his work to the 1st century AD.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

It meant physical soundness or wholeness, and purity, as Pliny's clean vessels for oil or the purity of salt pans.[2][4] Valerius Maximus and Palladius use it of soundness of body and head.[5][6] Lewis & Short note it is not found before the Augustan age.[5] Figuratively it meant straightforwardness, integrity and honesty, as in Seneca and Gellius.[2][4]

In Christian and medieval Latin it was ritual or spiritual purity.[7][1] English sincerity is recorded in the early 15th century.[8]

Timeline

  • 1st century AD – Phaedrus and Valerius Maximus use it of honesty.[2][3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of purity.[2][3]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of integrity.[4][3]
  • early 15th century – English sincerity is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Soundness, wholeness; purity.[2][5]
  2. Integrity, honesty, sincerity.[2][1]
  3. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Moral or ritual purity.[7][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com