| 释义 |
Apocrypha, a. and n.|əˈpɒkrɪfə|
Forms: 4–6 apocripha, (8 apocryphy), 6– apocrypha.
[neut. pl. (sc. scripta) of late L. adj. apocryphus, a. Gr. ἀπόκρυϕος hidden, hence, of unknown authorship, spurious, f. ἀποκρύπτ-ειν to hide away. Formerly used (in pl. apocrypha, sing. apocryphum) as adj. As n., still properly treated as a plural, with singular of Gr. form apocryphon; but in common usage apocrypha is sing. with pl. apocryphas. In this sense apocryphy was also formerly in use. Cf. prec.]
†A. adj. Of unknown authorship; not authentic, spurious; uncanonical (see B); false. Obs.
1387Trevisa Higden V. 105 The writynge is Apocripha whanne þe auctor þerof is unknowe. 1460J. Capgrave Chron. 7 ‘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. 1690Locke Government II. i. xi. §143. 150 That..Kings enjoy'd their Crowns by Right descending to them from Adam, that we think not only Apocrypha, but also utterly impossible.
B. n.
1. A writing or statement of doubtful authorship or authenticity; spec. those books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate versions of the Old Testament, which were not originally written in Hebrew and not counted genuine by the Jews, and which, at the Reformation, were excluded from the Sacred Canon by the Protestant party, as having no well-grounded claim to inspired authorship.
1539Bible (‘Great’) Apocrypha, Pref., The other [bookes] folowynge, which are called apocripha. 1587Golding De Mornay xxx. 470 The Iewes account those bookes for Apocryphaes. 1597Hooker V. xx. (1841) i. 483 We hold not the apocrypha for sacred. 1704Lond. Gaz. mmmmxxii/3 The Contents of each Chapter in the Bible, and Apocryphy. c1735Pope Donne Sat. iv. 286 What's now apocrypha, my wit, In time to come may pass for holy writ. 1834Penny Cycl. II. 163/2 About 1826, it was decided that the Apocrypha should not be circulated by the British and Foreign Bible Society. 1881W. R. Smith Old Test. in Jew. Ch. v. 27 The presence of an apocryphon in a Christian MS.
b. attrib.
1590J. Greenwood Sland. Art. B iv b, Theire Apochripha liturgye. 1666Bunyan Grace Abound. §65 Casting my eye upon the Apocrypha books, I found it in Ecclesiasticus.
2. [As in Gr.] Hidden things; secrets. rare.
1839Bailey Festus viii. (1848) 80 Every man's life has its apocrypha; Mine has, at least. |