euhemerism
[ yoo-hee-muh-riz-uh m, -hem-uh- ]
/ yuˈhi məˌrɪz əm, -ˈhɛm ə- /
noun
(often initial capital letter)
the theory of Euhemerus that the mythologies of various gods arose out of the deification of dead heroes.
the theory that mythology is derived from history.
Origin of euhemerism
First recorded in 1840–50;
Euhemer(us) +
-ism
OTHER WORDS FROM euhemerism
eu·he·mer·ist, noun eu·he·mer·is·tic, adjective eu·he·mer·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby euhemerism
eugnathia,
eugonic,
eugène,
eugénie,
euhedral,
euhemerism,
euhemerize,
euhemerus,
eukaryotae,
eukaryote,
eukinetics
Example sentences from the Web for euhemerism
British Dictionary definitions for euhemerism
euhemerism
/ (juːˈhiːməˌrɪzəm) /
noun
the theory that gods arose out of the deification of historical heroes
any interpretation of myths that derives the gods from outstanding men and seeks the source of mythology in history
Derived forms of euhemerism
euhemerist, noun euhemeristic, adjective euhemeristically, adverbWord Origin for euhemerism
C19: named after
Euhemerus (?300
bc), Greek philosopher who propounded this theory