Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Meretricious
Merˊe-tri′cious
,Adj.
[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
traffic2.
Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry;
– as,
. meretricious
dress or ornamentsMerˊe-tri′cious-ly
, adv.
Merˊe-tri′cious-ness
, Noun.
☞ The red-breasted merganser (
– Merganser serrator
) inhabits both hemispheres. It is called also sawbill
, harle
, and sheldrake
. The American merganser (Merganser Americanus
.) and the hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus
) are well-known species. White merganser
, the smew or white nun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Meretricious
MERETRI'CIOUS
,Adj.
1.
Pertaining to prostitutes; such as in practiced by harlots; as meretricious arts.2.
Alluring by false show; worn for disguise; having a gaudy but deceitful appearance; false; as meretricious dress or ornaments.Definition 2024
meretricious
meretricious
English
Adjective
meretricious (comparative more meretricious, superlative most meretricious)
- Tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 10, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
- He looked round the poor room, at the distempered walls, and the bad engravings in meretricious frames, the crinkly paper and wax flowers on the chiffonier; and he thought of a room like Father Bryan's, with panelling, with cut glass, with tulips in silver pots, such a room as he had hoped to have for his own.
- 2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho, Picador 2007, p. 164:
- When I lifted my eyes from the page, there was none of the meretricious argument London always offers that the sole real purpose in life is to hustle for a buck.
-
- (law) Involving unlawful sexual connection or lack of consent by at least one party (said of a romantic relationship)
- (obsolete) Of, or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.
Synonyms
Related terms
- merit (see also: merit: related terms)
Translations
Tastelessly gaudy
of, or relating to prostitutes
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