adj.
Pronunciation: ' sp ē -sh ə s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, visually pleasing, from Latin speciosus beautiful, plausible, from species
Date: 1513
1 obsolete : SHOWY
2 : having deceptive attraction or allure
3 : having a false look of truth or genuineness : SOPHISTIC < specious reasoning>
– spe · cious · ly adverb
– spe · cious · ness noun