Apocryphal

/əˈpɒkɹɪfəl/ · adjective

Meaning

(Christianity) Of, or pertaining to, the Apocrypha..

Definitions by Sense

1. (Christianity) Of, or pertaining to, the Apocrypha.
2. (by extension) Of doubtful authenticity, or lacking authority; not regarded as canonical.
3. (by extension) Of dubious veracity; of questionable accuracy or truthfulness; anecdotal or in the nature of an urban legend.

Example Sentences

[…] ‘Tobit and his dog baith are altogether heathenish and apocryphal, and none but a prelatist or a papist would draw them into question. I doubt I hae been mista'en in you, friend.’

Besides all this, he had read his Bible, including the apocryphal books; […]

The Latins are throughout poorer. Tertullian and Cyprian will be referred to; but Jerome hates apocryphal literature, and says so, while Augustine, a valuable source of knowledge about some New Testament Apocrypha, never, it so happens, quotes spurious Old Testament literature at all.

Many scholars consider the stories of the monk Teilo to be apocryphal.

The structural anthropologist urges us to ignore the orthodox who labor so patiently trying to eliminate the apocryphal variants from the one true text.

There is an apocryphal tale of a little boy plugging the dike with his finger.

Charles, already dispos'd by the evidence of his senses to think my pretences to virginity not entirely apocryphal, smothers me with kisses, begs me, in the name of love, to have a little patience, and that he will be as tender of hurting me as he would be of himself.

I confess I was a little dubious at first whether it was not one of those apocryphal tales often passed off upon inquiring travellers like myself, and which have brought our general character for veracity into such unmerited reproach.

Synonyms for apocryphal

Antonyms for apocryphal

Related Words

Word Forms

• more apocryphal
• most apocryphal

Usage Notes

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