Emily Dickinson Lexicon

A-POC'RY-PHA, n. [Gr. from αποκρυπτω, απο and κρυπτω, to conceal.]

Literally, such things as are not published; but in an appropriate sense, books whose authors are not known; whose authenticity, as inspired writings, is not admitted, and which are therefore not considered a part of the sacred canon of the Scripture. When the Jews published their sacred books, they called them canonical and divine; such as they did not publish, were called apocryphal. The apocryphal books are received by the Romish Church as canonical, but not by Protestants. – Encyc.