simon-pure, adj. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

simon-pure adj.

genuine, real.

1840		Maysville Eagle 22 Apr. 3/1: The Globe [...] or indeed any other paper of the Simon Pure democracy [DA].
1856		Illinois State Register 15 May 3/2: The real simon pure democracy have been looking to him, more than any other man as their candidate [DA].
1870		Petaluma Times (CA) 28 May 2/1: Which is the simon-pre democracy?
1879		W.D. Howells Lady of the Aroostook xxv n.p.: I should like to see what you call the simon-pure American [F&H].
1883		F. Remington in Century mag. (N.Y.) XXXVII 337: The home of the Simon-pure wild horse is on the southern plains.
1894		‘Mark Twain’ Pudd’nhead Wilson 8: He’s a labrick—just a Simon-pure labrick, if ever there was one.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Sept. 17/1: Lord Skidmore: ‘I see these beastly Australians propose to have home-grown Gov’nahs for their provinces, instead of the real Simon Puah blue blood of the Empiah.’.
1903		Ade People You Know 143: At Harvard [...] a Student must grind through a long Course, and a Fellowship and an Instructorship before he blossoms into a simon-pure Professor.
1909		L.W. Payne Jr ‘Word-List From East Alabama’ in DN III:v 370: Simon pure, adj. Genuine, true. […].
1912		A.G. Field Watch Yourself Go By 475: Two friends were responsible for my decision to put on a simon-pure, old-time minstrel show.
1916		El Paso Herald (TX) 25 Apr. 10/1: Only the ‘simon pure’ brand of amateurs are to have a chance to don the mitts.
1922		Winona Times (MS) 15 Sept. 2/1: Simon Purew Democracy has been raised above all ‘isms’.
1930		E.H. Lavine Third Degree (1931) 68: Being known in the neighborhood as a simon-pure sap, his presence was not looked upon by the gang with suspicion.
1945		Boulder Daily Camera 24 Nov. 4/2: All is not ‘Simon pure’ in the Big Six conference [DA].
1952		Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 41: It is impossible to distinguish them from simon-pure amateurs.
1959		‘Ed McBain’ Killer’s Wedge (1981) 27: Big simon-pure Lieutenant Byrnes.
1960		C. MacInnes Mr Love and Justice (1964) 202: But here everyone is so damn innocent: so simon-pure.