[ ə'pɒkrɪfə ]
■ plural noun [treated as sing. or plural ]
1》 ( the ~ ) biblical or related writings appended to the Old Testament in the Septuagint and Vulgate versions, not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture.
2》 ( apocrypha ) writings or reports not considered genuine.
Origin
ME: from eccles. L. apocrypha (scripta) 'hidden (writings)', from Gk apokruphos , from apokruptein 'hide away'.