n.
Pronunciation: ə - ' pä-kr ə -f ə
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: Medieval Latin, from Late Latin, neuter plural of apocryphus secret, not canonical, from Greek apokryphos obscure, from apokryptein to hide away, from apo- + kryptein to hide ― more at CRYPT
Date: 14th century
1 : writings or statements of dubious authenticity
2 capitalized a : books included in the Septuagint and Vulgate but excluded from the Jewish and Protestant canons of the Old Testament ― see BIBLE table b : early Christian writings not included in the New Testament