sincero Italian · revision 38721

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1321, Dante|origins=la sincērus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /sinˈt͡ʃɛ.ro/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sincero''' (feminine sincera, masculine plural sinceri, feminine plural sincere)^(Wiktionary)

+ GDLI records the old forms ''scincèro'', ''sencièro'', ''senzièro'', ''sincièro'' and ''singèro''.^(GDLI|19, 46)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a learned word, [[bor|la|sincērus|t=clean, pure, unmixed; sound, honest]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) [[fr|sincère]] (1549) and [[es|sincero]] are learned words too,^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|3503) while popular outcomes survive in [[sc|sinkeru]], [[ca|sencer|t=whole, intact]] and [[oc|sencer]].^(REW 1935)^(Körting 1907)

+

+ The origin of the Latin word is disputed.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) DELI, Nocentini, Devoto–Oli and Devoto take it as a compound of [[m|la|sin-]], from the root [[ine-pro|*sem-|t=one]] of [[m|la|semel|t=once]] and [[m|la|simplex|t=simple]], and a derivative of the root of [[m|la|crēscō|t=to grow]]: “of one growth, of a single origin”, hence “unmixed, pure”.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Devoto 1968) De Vaan thinks the link with [[m|la|prōcērus|t=tall]] hardly works for the sense, and follows Hiltbrunner in connecting it with [[m|la|caerimōnia|t=sacredness, rite]] and an older adjective [[la|*caerus|t=whole, intact]], which would also be related to [[gem-pro|*hailaz|t=whole]].^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary objects that [[itc-pro|*senkairos]] should have given [[la|*sincīrus]] in Latin.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Dante (before 1321), with the sense “pure, genuine”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003) In the ''Paradiso'' human nature, as it came from its maker, ''fu sincera e buona'' (“was pure and good”).^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The moral sense “free from pretence” is first recorded in Domenico Cavalca (before 1342), and “saying exactly what one feels or thinks” in Ariosto (1532), who writes of loving ''con cor sincero e con perfetta fede'' (“with a sincere heart and perfect faith”).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) ''Sincerità'' is in Giovanni Villani, before 1348, and DEI finds ''sinceritate'' already in the 13th century in Iacopone.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|3503)

+

+ Dante also used ''sincero'' for “bright, clear” of light and sight, a sense now archaic.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) The old physical sense “unmixed, unadulterated” survives in ''vino sincero'' and ''olio sincero''.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GRADIT 2003) ''Sincerare'' “to convince of the truth” is from the early 17th century, and its reflexive ''sincerarsi'' “to make sure” from 1630.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – Iacopone da Todi uses ''sinceritate''.^(DEI|3503)

+ * Before 1321 – Dante uses ''sincero'' for “pure, genuine”.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses it for “free from pretence”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – ''Sincerità'' appears in Giovanni Villani.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1532 – Ariosto uses ''sincero'' of a person who speaks the truth.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1549 – French ''sincère'' is first recorded.^(DEI|3503)

+ * 1630 – ''Sincerarsi'' “to make sure” appears in Davila.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|sincere]], [[m|en|honest]], [[m|en|frank]]: ''Devo essere sincero, il film non mi è piaciuto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Genuinely devoted to an ideal or a faith: ''È un democratico sincero.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Of a feeling, genuine, heartfelt; in set formulas, ''sincere condoglianze'', ''sinceri auguri''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a food or substance, pure, unadulterated: ''Questo olio è sincero, viene dal frantoio del paese.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(archaic, literary)'' Pure, perfect; bright, clear.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sincerità]]

+ * [[sinceramente]]

+ * [[sincerare]]

+ * [[insincero]]

+ * [[sincerezza]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|sincērus]]

+ * [[fr|sincère]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate word ''sìncero'' (stressed on the first syllable) is the zoological name of the African buffalo, from scientific Latin ''Syncerus'', made from Greek ''syn-'' “together” and ''kéras'' “horn” because the horns almost meet; it is a 20th-century term.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}