hypocrisy
/hɪˈpɒkrɪsi/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
hupokrisis — acting, performance, play-acting
Overview
Meaning Now
- The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.
- Pretense; the act of feigning or simulating virtuous character or beliefs.
Literal older meaning
the acting of a part on stage
Language path
Ancient Greek → Middle French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
ypocrisie
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word originally described a stage actor. In the context of ancient theater, the 'hypocrites' were the actors who 'answered' the chorus. Because the actor was pretending to be someone they were not, the term gained a negative moral connotation in early Christian usage, shifting from 'professional performer' to 'someone masking their true intent'.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
hupokrisis
“performance of a play, answering”
From hupo (under) + krinein (to decide/judge).
- Koinē Greek
hypokrisis
“pretense, dissimulation”
Reflecting Biblical usage in the Septuagint and New Testament.
- Old French
ipocrisie
“false profession of virtue”
Introduced into Western European languages through ecclesiastical Latin.
- Middle English
ypocrisie
“hypocrisy”
Used widely in theological discourse.
Connections
Word parts
hypo-
prefix
under
krisis
root
judgment, decision
Related across languages
Latin
hypocrisis
acting, dissimulation
French
hypocrisie
hypocrisy
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.