- Meretriciousness
- Meretricious Mer`e*tri"cious, a. [L. meretricius, from
meretrix, -icis, a prostitute, lit., one who earns money, i.
e., by prostitution, fr. merere to earn, gain. See {Merit}.]
1. Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with
harlots; lustful; as, meretricious traffic.
[1913 Webster]
2. Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as, meretricious dress or ornaments. [1913 Webster]
3. Deceptive or based on deception; seeming plausible, but based on pretense or insincerity; deceptive; misleading; insincere; specious; as, meretricious arguments. [PJC] -- {Mer`e*tri"cious*ly}, adv. -- {Mer`e*tri"cious*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.