various Jewish writings from the first century bc to the first century ad that claim to have been divinely revealed but which have been excluded from the Greek canon of the Old Testament
Also called (in the Roman Catholic Church): Apocrypha
Derived forms
Pseudepigraphic (ˌsjuːdɛpɪˈɡræfɪk), Pseudepigraphical (ˌPseudepiˈgraphical) or Pseudepigraphous (ˌPseudeˈpigraphous)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Greek pseudepigraphos falsely entitled, from pseudo- + epigraphein to inscribe
a group of early writings not included in the biblical canon or the Apocrypha, some of which were falsely ascribed to biblical characters
Derived forms
pseudepigraphal (ˌpseudeˈpigraphal)
adjective or ˌpseudepiˈgraphic (ˌsudəpəˈgræfɪk)
Word origin
ModL < Gr, neut. pl. of pseudepigraphos, having a false title < pseudēs, false + epigraphein, to inscribe < epi, upon + graphein, to write: see graphic