Apocryphas

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Apocrypha \A*poc"ry*pha\, n. pl., but often used as sing. with
     pl. {Apocryphas}. [L. apocryphus apocryphal, Gr. ? hidden,
     spurious, fr. ? to hide; ? from + ? to hide.]
     1. Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or
        authority; -- formerly used also adjectively. [Obs.]
        --Locke.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some
        Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures,
        but are rejected by others.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Fourteen such writings, or books, formed part of the
           Septuagint, but not of the Hebrew canon recognized by
           the Jews of Palestine. The Council of Trent included
           all but three of these in the canon of inspired books
           having equal authority. The German and English
           Reformers grouped them in their Bibles under the title
           Apocrypha, as not having dogmatic authority, but being
           profitable for instruction. The Apocrypha is now
           commonly ?mitted from the King James's Bible.
           [1913 Webster]