[spu.ri.ous] adj [LL & L; LL spurius false, fr. L, of illegitimate birth, fr. spurius, n., bastard] (1598) 1: of illegitimate birth: bastard
2: outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities: false 3 a: of falsified or erroneously attributed origin: forged b: of a deceitful nature or quality -- spu.ri.ous.ly adv -- spu.ri.ous.ness n