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Where does the word "sincere" come from? It comes from Latin sincerus, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).
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Where does the word "sincere" come from? It comes from Latin sincerus, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).
Sincere’s story begins in Latin: sincerus meant “pure, unblemished, without wax.” Possibly literally without wax, from sine (without) and cera (wax), describing pottery unblemished by wax repairs. It reached English by 1530s as sincere. Settled as the English word for genuine, honest feeling. Today, sincere means free from pretense or deceit, genuinely honest.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sincerus "pure, unblemished, without wax", possibly literally without wax, from sine (without) and cera (wax), describing pottery unblemished by wax repairs.
- Stage 2 · English · 1530s sincere "free from pretense or deceit", settled as the English word for genuine, honest feeling.