Question

meretricious adjective "Meretricious" can be traced back to the Latin verb "merēre," meaning "to earn, gain, or deserve." It shares this origin with a small group of other English words, including "merit," meritorious," and "emeritus." But, while these words can suggest some degree of honor or esteem, "meretricious" is used to suggest pretense, insincerity, and cheap or tawdry ornamentation. The Latin "merēre" is at the root of the Latin noun "meretrix," meaning "prostitute," and its related adjective "meretricius" ("of or relating to a prostitute"). The Latin "meretricius" entered into English as "meretricious" in the 17th century. Shortly after being adopted, "meretricious" also began to be used to indicate things which are superficially attractive but which have little or no value or integrity. 1 : of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution2 a : tawdrily and falsely attractiveb : superficially significant : pretentious

Accepted Answer

February 11, 2013 mair-uh-TRISH-us The critic panned the book as a well-written but meretricious work with little substance beneath its veneer of forceful rhetoric and righteous indignation.   "In his hands, works by Respighi and Arvo Pärt that generally sound cheesy or meretricious-at least to this listener-suddenly seemed worthy of, if not affection, then at least respect and indulgence." - From a music review by Joshua Kosman in The San Francisco Chronicle, October 6, 2012

Word	meretricious
Date	February 11, 2013
Type	adjective
Syllables	mair-uh-TRISH-us
Etymology	"Meretricious" can be traced back to the Latin verb "merēre," meaning "to earn, gain, or deserve." It shares this origin with a small group of other English words, including "merit," meritorious," and "emeritus." But, while these words can suggest some degree of honor or esteem, "meretricious" is used to suggest pretense, insincerity, and cheap or tawdry ornamentation. The Latin "merēre" is at the root of the Latin noun "meretrix," meaning "prostitute," and its related adjective "meretricius" ("of or relating to a prostitute"). The Latin "meretricius" entered into English as "meretricious" in the 17th century. Shortly after being adopted, "meretricious" also began to be used to indicate things which are superficially attractive but which have little or no value or integrity.
Examples	The critic panned the book as a well-written but meretricious work with little substance beneath its veneer of forceful rhetoric and righteous indignation. "In his hands, works by Respighi and Arvo Pärt that generally sound cheesy or meretricious-at least to this listener-suddenly seemed worthy of, if not affection, then at least respect and indulgence." - From a music review by Joshua Kosman in The San Francisco Chronicle, October 6, 2012
Definition	1 : of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution 2 a : tawdrily and falsely attractive b : superficially significant : pretentious

Meretricious Latin Adjective Meaning English Suggest Meretricius Relating