online medical dictionary | definition of sincere

1. Pure; unmixed; unadulterated. "There is no sincere acid in any animal juice." (Arbuthnot) "A joy which never was sincere till now." (Dryden)

2. Whole; perfect; unhurt; uninjured. "The inviolable body stood sincere." (Dryden)

3. Being in reality what it appears to be; having a character which corresponds with the appearance; not falsely assumed; genuine; true; real; as, a sincere desire for knowledge; a sincere contempt for meanness. "A sincere intention of pleasing God in all our actions." (Law)

4. Honest; free from hypocrisy or dissimulation; as, a sincere friend; a sincere person. "The more sincere you are, the better it will fare with you at the great day of account." (Waterland)

Synonyms: Honest, unfeigned, unvarnished, real, true, unaffected, inartificial, frank, upright. See Hearty.

Origin: L. Sincerus, of uncertain origin; the first part perhaps akin to sin- in singuli (see Single), and the second to cernere to separate (cf. Discern): cf. F. Sincere.

(01 Mar 1998)