apocrypha
UK[əˈpɒkrɪfə]US[əˈpɑːkrɪfə]
n
Writings or reports of doubtful authenticity, especially those not included in the standard canon of religious scripture.
n
(often capitalized) The 14 books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate but not in the Hebrew Bible, regarded as noncanonical by many Protestants.
Morpheme Breakdown
apo
cryph
a
apo
away
cryph
hidden
a
plural suffix
Etymology
The word 'apocrypha' has a revealing journey from literal concealment to theological classification. It originates from the Greek adjective apokryphos, meaning "hidden away", itself formed from the prefix apo- ("away from") and the verb kryptein ("to hide"). Initially, this term was applied to writings deemed esoteric or secret, reserved for the initiated. In early Christian contexts, it was adopted by Church Fathers to label texts considered of dubious origin or authority—those "hidden away" from public liturgical use. This evolved into its modern ecclesiastical meaning, designating those books included in the Old Testament of the Septuagint but excluded from the Hebrew canon, thus metaphorically "set apart" from the accepted body of scripture.
Analysis
Structure: apo (away) + cryph (hidden) + a (plural suffix)
apo: Greek origin, a prefix meaning "away, off, from".
cryph: From Greek kryptein (to hide), representing the concept of being hidden or concealed.
a: A suffix of Greek origin, often used to form plural nouns in English from Greek neuter plural endings.
Examples
Scholars often debate the historical value of the biblical apocrypha.
His sources for the biography were considered apocrypha by most experts.
The collection includes several apocrypha attributed to the apostles.