Middle English Dictionary Entry
apocrif, -a, -um adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | apocrif, -a, -um adj. & n. |
| Etymology | L adj., from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of unknown authorship or doubtful authenticity, or so regarded by the Church; not authentic, apocryphal; an apocryphon.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.105 : Þe writynge is Apocripha whanne þe auctor þerof is unknowe.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)3428 : It es apocrysome [read: apocryfome] & none autentyk thyng.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)356 : This parti is miche more credible..the contrarie parti is an apocrif.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)358 : Oold stories and cronicles, being famose and worthi and credible, and not being apocrifis.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)362 : The storie of Siluestris gestis ben not but vntrewe apocrifis.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.2 : Apocrifa ben seid in twey maners..a book is seid apocrifum [Corp-C: apocrifa], either for the autor is vnknowen, and the treuthe therof is opyn..either a book is seid apocrifum [Dub: apocrifi] for me doutith of the treuthe therof.
- a1450(a1397) WBible(2) GProl.(Hrl 1666)p.2 : Jerom..biddith that no man delite in the dremis of the iij and iiij book of Esdre that ben apocrifa, that is, not of autorite of bileue.
- a1450 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Roy 18.A.10)12 : Clerkys wys..apocrifum þei holde it riȝt, For tre spak neuere wiþ mouþe.
- c1450 Inf.Chr.(Add 31042)p.327 : Here Bigynnys the Romance of the childhode of Jhesu Criste þat clerkes callys Ipokrephum.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)7 : The book whech is clepid the Penauns of Adam be cleped Apocriphum, whech is to sey whanne the mater is in doute, or ellis whan men knowe not who mad the book.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)130/32 : Alle oþire seiyngis of cristis dedis..owen to be seid and deemed fals, or at þe leest apocriphes or feyned þingis, as suche þat we witen not fro whennes þei came, or whiþer þei wolen.