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Webster 1913 Edition
Apocrypha
A-poc′ry-pha
,Noun.
pl.
pl.
Apocryphas
. [L.
apocryphus
apocryphal, Gr. [GREEK] hidden, spurious, fr. [GREEK] to hide; [GREEK] from + [GREEK] to hide.] 1.
Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or authority; – formerly used also adjectively.
[Obs.]
Locke.
2.
Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures, but are rejected by others.
☞ Fourteen such writings, or books, formed part of the Septuagint, but not of the Hebrew canon recognized by the Jews of Palestine. The Council of Trent included all but three of these in the canon of inspired books having equal authority. The German and English Reformers grouped them in their Bibles under the title Apocrypha, as not having dogmatic authority, but being profitable for instruction. The Apocrypha is now commonly [GREEK]mitted from the King James’s Bible.
Webster 1828 Edition
Apocrypha
APOC'RYPHA
,Noun.
Literally such things as are not published; but in an appropriate sense, books whose authors are not known; whose authenticity, as inspired writings, is not admitted, and which are therefore not considered a part of the sacred canon of the scripture. When the Jews published their sacred books, they called them canonical and divine; such as they did not publish, were called apocryphal. The apocryphal books are received by the Romish Church as canonical, but not by Protestants.