pseudepigraphy

[soo-duh-pig-ruh-fee]

noun

1. the false ascription of a piece of writing to an author.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pseudepigraphy¹

First recorded 1835–45; pseud- + Greek epigraph(eús) “title, ascription to an author ”( epigraph ) + -y ³

Example Sentences

Again it is a notable specimen of early Christian pseudepigraphy, and one which had manifold and far-reaching results.

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Associated words: nominal, nominally, titular, titulary, onomatology, patronomatology, onomasticon, orismology, pseudepigraphy, pseudonymity, roster, register, née, nomancy, namesake, eponymy, of that ilk, nomenclator, heteronym, synedoche, nominative. name, v. entitle, denominate, style, call, christen, dub, term; designate, specify, nominate. nameless, a. unnamed; undistinguished, inglorious, unknown, obscure; anonymous; unnamable, inexpressible. namelessness, n. anonymity; obscurity. names, n. pl. nomenclature, terminology.

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Associated words: pseudonymous, pseudonymity, pseudepigraphous pseudepigraphy. false swearing. perjury. false writing. forgery, pseudography, pseudograph. falsification, n. counterfeiting, forgery, falsifying; misrepresentation, distortion. falsify, v. misstate, misrepresent, garble, distort, pervert; confute, refute, disprove. falter, v. hesitate, tremble, waver, vacillate. faltering, a. wavering, hesitating. faltering, n. hesitation, indecision, wavering, vacillation. fame, n. celebrity, note, eminence, renown, glory, reputation, repute.

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When To Use

What does pseudepigraphy mean?

Pseudepigraphy is the attribution of a piece of writing to an author who did not actually write it.Attribution is “the act of stating who wrote or created something.” The term pseudepigraphy is often used in the context of sacred texts, especially Jewish and Christian scriptures. It is also a topic in literary criticism.Pseudepigraphy was the Dictionary.com Word of the Day on April 26, 2019!Example: After years of research and study, the scholar determined that the long-debated religious text was a case of pseudepigraphy.