pseudepigraphic
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˌsuːdɪˈpɪɡrəfɪk/
- Formal
- The letter was labeled as pseudepigraphic since it was claimed to be written by a famous author who lived centuries later.
Examples
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Many ancient texts are considered pseudepigraphic because they are falsely attributed to well-known figures like Moses or Isaiah.
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The large corpus of Jewish pseudepigraphic and apocryphal literature was part of Christianity's intellectual heritage, and early Christian writers did not immediately abandon them because they were not included in early canon lists.
Academic text (2018) -
Scholars often study pseudepigraphic works to understand the historical context of the beliefs that produced them.
Synonyms
6
8.9
A story or report widely told but probably not true
How Authentic
Surface Forms
Morphology
pseudepigraphic = epigraphic (opaque) = pseudo + epigraph + ic
The change from 'epigraphic' to 'pseudepigraphic' is a straightforward prefixation, but the specialized meaning 'falsely attributed to an author' is not predictable from the parts for most learners.
Etymology
Pseudepigraphic joins pseudo- meaning 'false' with a root for 'writing' seen in familiar words like autograph. So a pseudepigraphic text is a 'false writing' said to be by someone who did not really write it.