sincere Latin · revision 36730

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la sincērus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sincērē''' (comparative sincērius, superlative sincērissimē)^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ The comparative is found in Gellius and the superlative in Augustine.^(Georges 1913)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sincērus|-ē|t1=whole, sound, pure]].^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan sets out [[m|la|sincērus]] as possibly from [[itc-pro|*sm-kair/so-|t=whole, intact]], with a query on its Indo-European form.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==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?”).^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Ennius uses it of sounding true: angry and flattering people alike say nothing that rings true.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its usual classical sense is moral: “without falsehood, honestly, sincerely”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Terence has a thing said sincerely,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Catullus writes ''facite ut id sincere dicat et ex animo'' (“see that this is said sincerely, from the heart”),^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) and Cicero, Caesar and Livy use it of speaking, declaring and seeking peace in good faith.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Valerius Maximus uses it of governors who administered their provinces honestly.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ 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.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of seeing soundly.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of words that ring true.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of a thing said sincerely.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of speaking honestly.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Aulus Gellius has the comparative ''sincerius''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 354–430 AD – Augustine has the superlative ''sincerissime''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Soundly, without physical impairment; clearly.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # Truly, [[m|en|honestly]], [[m|en|sincerely]], without falsehood.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Single-mindedly, with undivided devotion.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Sincere sonare'' “to ring true” is taken from the sound of a vessel without a flaw.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}