Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Apocrypha \A*poc"ry*pha\, n. pl., but often used as sing. with
   pl. {Apocryphas}. [L. apocryphus apocryphal, Gr. ? hidden,
   spurious, fr. ? to hide; ? from + ? to hide.]
   1. Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or
      authority; -- formerly used also adjectively. [Obs.]
      --Locke.

   2. Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some
      Christians as an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures,
      but are rejected by others.

   Note: Fourteen such writings, or books, formed part of the
         Septuagint, but not of the Hebrew canon recognized by
         the Jews of Palestine. The Council of Trent included
         all but three of these in the canon of inspired books
         having equal authority. The German and English
         Reformers grouped them in their Bibles under the title
         Apocrypha, as not having dogmatic authority, but being
         profitable for instruction. The Apocrypha is now
         commonly ?mitted from the King James's Bible.