apocrypha
/əˈpɒk.ɹə.fə/ noun, proper noun
Forms apocryphas
- noun Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority (formerly also used attributively).
- proper noun That group of works which formed part of the Septuagint, but not of the Hebrew canon recognized by the Jews, and which is considered by some Christians to form an authentic part of Scripture, but which is rejected by others (namely by Protestants).
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English apocrypha, apocrifa, apocrif, from Late Latin apocryphus (“secret, not approved for public reading”), from Ancient Greek ἀπόκρυφος (apókruphos, “hidden, obscure”, thus “(books) of unknown authorship”), from ἀπό (apó, “from”) + κρύπτω (krúptō, “to hide”). Properly plural (the singular would be apocryphon), but commonly treated as a collective singular. “Apocryphal” meaning “of doubtful authenticity” is first attested in English in 1590.
See apocrypha.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority; --formerly used also adjectively. [Obs.] Locke.
- noun Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures, but are rejected by others.
Etymology [L. apocryphus apocryphal, Gr. 1. Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority; -- formerly used also adjectively. [Obs.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “apocrypha”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details