spe´cious|ness

spe´cious|ness
spe|cious «SPEE shuhs», adjective.
1. seeming desirable, reasonable, or probable, but not really so; apparently good or right, but without real merit: »

a specious appearance of fair play. The teacher saw through that specious excuse. This specious reasoning is nevertheless false (Thomas Hobbes).

2. making a good outward appearance in order to deceive: »

a specious friendship, a specious flatterer.

3. Archaic. showy; beautiful; lovely.
[< Latin speciōsus < speciēs, -ēī appearance]
spe´cious|ly, adverb.
spe´cious|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • spe´cious|ly — spe|cious «SPEE shuhs», adjective. 1. seeming desirable, reasonable, or probable, but not really so; apparently good or right, but without real merit: »a specious appearance of fair play. The teacher saw through that specious excuse. This… …   Useful english dictionary

  • spe|cious — «SPEE shuhs», adjective. 1. seeming desirable, reasonable, or probable, but not really so; apparently good or right, but without real merit: »a specious appearance of fair play. The teacher saw through that specious excuse. This specious… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

  • cious — an·dro·di·oe·cious; an·dro·mo·noe·cious; an·ti·per·ni·cious; as·tu·cious; atro·cious; atro·cious·ly; atro·cious·ness; au·da·cious·ly; au·da·cious·ness; aus·pi·cious; aus·pi·cious·ly; aus·pi·cious·ness; av·a·ri·cious; av·a·ri·cious·ly;… …   English syllables

  • spe — aga·mo·spe·cies; de·spe·ci·ate; ni·spe·ro; spe·cial·ism; spe·cial·ist; spe·cial·is·tic; spe·ci·al·i·ty; spe·cial·iza·tion; spe·cial·ize; spe·cial·iz·er; spe·cial·ly; spe·cial·ness; spe·cial·ty; spe·ci·ate; spe·ci·a·tion; spe·ci·es·ta·ler;… …   English syllables

  • speciousness — spe·cious·ness …   English syllables

  • specious — spe•cious [[t]ˈspi ʃəs[/t]] adj. 1) apparently true or right though lacking real merit; not genuine 2) deceptively attractive 3) Obs. pleasing to the eye • Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < L speciōsus fair, good looking < speci(ēs) (see species)… …   From formal English to slang

  • Specious — Spe cious, a. [L. speciosusgood looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. sp[ e]coeux. See {Species}.] 1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy. [1913 Webster] Some [serpents] specious… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Speciousness — Specious Spe cious, a. [L. speciosusgood looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. sp[ e]coeux. See {Species}.] 1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy. [1913 Webster] Some [serpents]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spexiously — Specious Spe cious, a. [L. speciosusgood looking, beautiful, specious, fr. species look, show, appearance; cf. F. sp[ e]coeux. See {Species}.] 1. Presenting a pleasing appearance; pleasing in form or look; showy. [1913 Webster] Some [serpents]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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