Meretriciously

2 definitions found

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

  Meretricious \Mer`e*tri"cious\, a. [L. meretricius, from
     meretrix, -icis, a prostitute, lit., one who earns money, i.
     e., by prostitution, fr. merere to earn, gain. See {Merit}.]
     1. Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with
        harlots; lustful; as, meretricious traffic.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show;
        gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as,
        meretricious dress or ornaments.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Deceptive or based on deception; seeming plausible, but
        based on pretense or insincerity; deceptive; misleading;
        insincere; specious; as, meretricious arguments.
        [PJC] -- {Mer`e*tri"cious*ly}, adv. --
        {Mer`e*tri"cious*ness}, n.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  meretriciously
       adv : in a meretricious manner; "the boat is meretriciously
             decorated" [syn: {flashily}]