— speciously , adv. — speciousness , n.
/spee"sheuhs/ , adj.
1. apparently good or right though lacking real merit; superficially pleasing or plausible: specious arguments.
2. pleasing to the eye but deceptive.
3. Obs. pleasing to the eye; fair.
[ 1350-1400; ME speciosus fair, good-looking, beautiful, equiv. to speci ( es ) (see SPECIES) + -osus -OUS ]
Syn. 1. See plausible. 2. false, misleading.
Ant. 1, 2. genuine.