Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sincerity” come from?

Sincerity derives from Middle French sincere, from Latin sincēritas, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sem- meaning together, combined with Latin cresco meaning to grow.

sincerity (English): The quality or state of being sincere; honesty of...

Definitions

  1. The quality or state of being sincere; honesty of...

Ancestry of “sincerity”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsinceritie—
2Latinsincēritas—
3Latinsincērus—
4Proto-Italicsenkairos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “sincerity”

  • insincerity
  • unsincerity
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →