apocrypha

apocrypha · noun, noun¹

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀπόκρυφος“hidden, obscure”
2. Late Latin · derived fromapocryphus“secret, not approved for public reading”
3. Middle English · inherited fromapocrypha
4. English todayapocrypha

From Middle English apocrypha, apocrifa, apocrif, from Late Latin apocryphus (“secret, not approved for public reading”), from Ancient Greek ἀπόκρυφος (apókruphos, “hidden, obscure”, thus “(books) of unknown authorship”), from ἀπό (apó, “from”) + κρύπτω (krúptō, “to hide”). Properly plural (the singular would be apocryphon), but commonly treated as a collective singular. “Apocryphal” meaning “of doubtful authenticity” is first attested in English in 1590.

Apocrypha · proper noun²

See apocrypha.