euhemerize
To invent a plausible but fanciful historical origin for something in order to…To invent a plausible but fanciful historical origin for something in order to rationalize mythology and legends.
Meaning
2 senses(ambitransitive, derogatory)To invent a plausible but fanciful historical origin for something in order to rationalize mythology and legends.
Near-synonyms: demythologize (sometimes synonymous), undeify (synonymous when personages are the direct objects)
Confucian scholars frequently euhemerized the myths used to explain religious rituals to the public.
(ambitransitive)To create mythology and legends from ancient historical figures and events.
Near-synonym: deify (synonymous when personages are the direct objects)
The Yellow Emperor was perhaps euhemerized from a prehistoric tribal leader.
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
From euhemerism + -ize, ultimately from Latin Euhēmerus, from Ancient Greek Εὐήμερος (EuḗmFrom euhemerism + -ize, ultimately from Latin Euhēmerus, from Ancient Greek Εὐήμερος (Euḗmeros), an ancient Greek Sicilian Skeptic who proposed most or all mythology derived from historical figures and natural events which received supernatural characteristics only through retelling.
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Forms
euhemerizes, euhemerizing, euhemerized, euhemerized| Base form | euhemerize · to euhemerize |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | euhemerizes |
| Present participle | euhemerizing |
| Past simple | euhemerized |
| Past participle | euhemerized |
regular · Lesson
Synonyms
5 synonymsWord family
3 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle