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speciousmore about specious

specious

 

  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Specious  \Spe"cious\,  a.  [L.  speciosusgood-looking,  beautiful, 
  specious,  fr  species  look  show  appearance;  cf  F. 
  sp['e]coeux.  See  {Species}.] 
  1.  Presenting  a  pleasing  appearance;  pleasing  in  form  or 
  look  showy. 
 
  Some  [serpents]  specious  and  beautiful  to  the  eye. 
  --Bp. 
  Richardson. 
 
  The  rest,  far  greater  part  Will  deem  in  outward 
  rites  and  specious  forms  Religion  satisfied. 
  --Milton. 
 
  2.  Apparently  right  superficially  fair,  just  or  correct, 
  but  not  so  in  reality;  appearing  well  at  first  view; 
  plausible;  as  specious  reasoning;  a  specious  argument. 
 
  Misled  for  a  moment  by  the  specious  names  of 
  religion,  liberty,  and  property.  --Macaulay. 
 
  In  consequence  of  their  greater  command  of  specious 
  expression.  --J.  Morley. 
 
  Syn:  Plausible;  showy;  ostensible;  colorable;  feasible.  See 
  {Plausible}.  --  {Spe"xious*ly},  adv  -- 
  {Spe"cious*ness},  n. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  specious 
  adj  1:  plausible  but  false;  "specious  reasoning";  "the  spurious 
  inferences  from  obsolescent  notions  of  causality"- 
  Ethel  Albert  [syn:  {spurious}] 
  2:  plausible  but  false;  "a  specious  claim" 
  3:  based  on  pretense;  deceptively  pleasing;  "the  gilded  and 
  perfumed  but  inwardly  rotten  nobility";  "meretricious 
  praise";  "a  meretricious  argument"  [syn:  {gilded},  {meretricious}]




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