c.1225, from O.Fr.
ypocrisie, from L.L.
hypocrisis, from Gk.
hypokrisis "acting on the stage, pretense," from
hypokrinesthai "play a part, pretend," also "answer," from
hypo- "under" + middle voice of
krinein "to sift, decide" (see
crisis). The sense evolution is from "separate gradually" to "answer" to "answer a fellow actor on stage" to "play a part." Thus
hypocrite (c.1225) is ult. Gk.
hypokrites "actor on the stage, pretender."