Webster's English Dictionary

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meretricious

Cross references:
  1. gaudy                 
 
mer.e.tri.cious \.mer-*-'trish-*s\ aj [L meretricius, fr. meretric-, 
   meretrix prostitute, fr. me]re-re to earn - more at MERIT 1: of or relating 
   to a prostitute  2a: tawdrily attractive {~ glamour}  2b: based on pretense 
   or insincerity : SPECIOUS {~ argumen t} - mer.e.tri.cious.ly av