specious

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Seemingly well-reasoned, plausible or true, but actually fallacious.

   • This idea that we must see through what we have started is specious, however good it may sound.
   • now to the discourse itself, voluble enough, and full of sentence, but that, for the most part, either specious rather than solid, or to his cause nothing pertinent.
   • I have frequently amused myself both in public and private companies, with silently remarking, the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting.
2. 2

   Employing fallacious but deceptively plausible arguments

   Employing fallacious but deceptively plausible arguments; deceitful.

   • With early virtues plant your breaſt, / The ſpecious arts of vice deteſt.
   • But a third cause of the delusion is, that the Church of Rome has become more specious and deceitful than before the Reformation.
3. 3

   Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response

   Having an attractive appearance intended to generate a favorable response; deceptively attractive.

   • And could any thing be more ſpecious, or more equal, than that fair diſtribution of power and profit, which men called the NEW MODEL?
   • [T]he success of Trajan, however transient, was rapid and specious. The degenerate Parthians, broken by intestine discord, fled before his arms.
   • This argument, though specious, will not, upon examination, be found solid.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Beautiful, pleasing to look at.

   2. 5

      Alternative form of speciose (“rich in species”).

      • Coelorinchus is the most specious genus of macrourids with 122 species at the time of writing and more yet to be described.

The neighborhood

• neighborspeciosity
• neighborspurious