being of...

[kingtrn]

Today I saw a definition of the word apocryphal which is defined as "being of questionable authenticity". I'm not used to this structure "being of...", what does it mean? Is is the same as "being questionable authenticity"?

Thank you!

 

[teechar]

Today, I saw a definition of the word "apocryphal" [STRIKE]which is defined[/STRIKE] as "being of questionable authenticity". I'm not used to this structure- "being of." What does it mean?

Think of "being" as "is" in the above.

Is [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] it the same as "being questionable authenticity"?

No, it's not.

 

[kingtrn]

Thank you, could you please elaborate more in which aspect "is of questionable authenticity" is different from "is questionable authenticity"?
For example: The news is apocryphal => The news is questionable authenticity / The news is of questionable authenticity.

Is there any subtle difference in meaning?

 

[teechar]

"is of questionable authenticity"

That means is characterized by questionable authenticity.

"is questionable authenticity"?

That's ungrammatical.

The news is questionable authenticity.

That's ungrammatical.

The news is of questionable authenticity.

That's okay.

Note that the collocation "being questionable authenticity" is unusual but possible.

 

[Tdol]

Or

The authenticity of the news is questionable.