apocrypha
Writings of questionable origin
Apocrypha refers to writings of doubtful authorship or authenticity.
More broadly, it describes any works outside an accepted canon—stories, texts, or traditions that circulate alongside official versions but aren't granted the same authority: Star Wars apocrypha includes novels that aren't considered canon anymore.
The word often carries a sense of the hidden, disputed, or unofficial. (Capitalized Apocrypha refers specifically to biblical texts.)
False though appearing genuine
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- disputedArgued over, unresolved
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- pseudonymousUsing a false name
attribution · provenance · legitimacy · unverified · doubtful · contested · fraudulent · misattributed
Concealed information
- concealedMade invisible deliberately
- obscureUnknown to most
- lostUnable to navigate
- suppressedForcibly held down
forbidden · rediscovered · buried · unknown · forgotten · censored · restricted · excluded
Understood by few
- occultConcealed from view
- hermeticImpenetrably closed off
- gnosticRelating to mystical insight
- cabalisticRelating to secret mysticism
mystical · alchemical · cryptic · symbolic · initiatory · theosophical · metaphysical · revelation
Accepted authoritative works
- scriptureSacred religious writings
- deuterocanonicalOf secondary biblical authority
- gospelsWritings bearing glad tidings
- biblicalOf sacred texts
testaments · ecclesiastical · doctrine · theology · apostolic · tradition · gnostic · heretical
spurious
False though appearing genuine
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- disputedArgued over, unresolved
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
pseudonymous · attribution · provenance · legitimacy · unverified · doubtful · contested · fraudulent · misattributed · debunked
secret
Concealed information
suppressed · forbidden · rediscovered · buried · unknown · forgotten · censored · restricted · excluded · omitted
arcane
Understood by few
cabalistic · mystical · alchemical · cryptic · symbolic · initiatory · theosophical · metaphysical · revelation · wisdom
canon
Accepted authoritative works
- scriptureSacred religious writings
- deuterocanonicalOf secondary biblical authority
- gospelsWritings bearing glad tidings
biblical · testaments · ecclesiastical · doctrine · theology · apostolic · tradition · gnostic · heretical · patristic
- religious textsBible, scriptures, Bible translations, Gospels, Koran
- ApocryphaGospel of Thomas, Judith, Susanna, ancient texts, ancient manuscripts
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
- authorshipauthorship, author bio, byline, attributed, credited
- mysticismmystic, gnosis, divine union, divine spark, mystical
- literature curiositieslast words, unfinished works, hidden messages, marginalia, ghost writers
apocryphaverified accounts
Confirmed-authentic social media identities
genuine articles · primary sources · historical record · reliable sources