Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
spunk
spunky
spur
spur gear
spur-of-the-moment
spur wheel
spurge
spurge laurel
spurious
spurn
spurry
spurt
spurtle
sputa
sputnik
sputter
sputum
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "spurious" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

spurious

spu·ri·ous [ spyree əs ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. not genuine: different from what it is claimed to be, not authentic, or not valid or well-founded
spurious arguments

2. botany resembling another plant part: having the outward appearance of another plant part but not its function or origin

3. illegitimate: born to parents not legally married to each other ( archaic )

[Late 16th century. < Latin spurius "illegitimate child"]

spu·ri·ous·ly adverb
spu·ri·ous·ness noun
Englishtown: Learn English online
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Upgrade your Encarta experience
Encarta RSS Feeds
© 2008 Microsoft