meretricious
Definitions
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- adjective Of or pertaining to prostitutes; wanton; libidinous.
- adjective Alluring by false attractions; having a gaudy but deceitful appearance; tawdry; showy: as, meretricious dress or ornaments.
Examples
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All here is false; all is meretricious.
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Where candle-light had made her seem a big-boned whore, smoke-light and a brown suit took all the meretricious from her rough, red hair and made her an elementary-school assistant principal.
Note
The word 'meretricious' comes from the Latin meretrīcius, of prostitutes, from meretrīx, meretrīc-, prostitute, from merēre, to earn money.
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