Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries

Meretricious

- 4 dictionary results

mer⋅e⋅tri⋅cious

  [mer-i-trish-uhs]
Use Meretricious in a Sentence
–adjective
1. alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions; tawdry.
2. based on pretense, deception, or insincerity.
3. pertaining to or characteristic of a prostitute.
Origin:
1620–30; < L meretrīcius of, pertaining to prostitutes, der. of meretrīx prostitute = mere-, s. of merēre to earn + -trīx -trix; see -ous

Related forms:
mer⋅e⋅tri⋅cious⋅ly, adverb
mer⋅e⋅tri⋅cious⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. showy, gaudy. 2. spurious, sham, false.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Meretricious
mer·e·tri·cious   (měr'ĭ-trĭsh'əs)   
adj.  
    1. Attracting attention in a vulgar manner: meretricious ornamentation. See Synonyms at gaudy1.
    2. Plausible but false or insincere; specious: a meretricious argument.
  2. Of or relating to prostitutes or prostitution: meretricious relationships.

[Latin meretrīcius, of prostitutes, from meretrīx, meretrīc-, prostitute, from merēre, to earn money; see (s)mer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
mer'e·tri'cious·ly adv., mer'e·tri'cious·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

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.

2. Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as, meretricious dress or ornaments. -- Mer`e*tri"cious*ly, adv. -- Mer`e*tri"cious*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

meretricious 
1626, from L. meretricius "of or pertaining to prostitutes," from meretrix (gen. meretricis) "prostitute," lit. "woman who earns money," from merere, mereri "to earn, gain" (see merit).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Meretricious on Thesaurus | Reference
>