euhemerism
[ yoo-hee-muh-riz-uhm, -hem-uh- ]
/ yuˈhi məˌrɪz əm, -ˈhɛm ə- /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!
In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”
Question 1 of 7
The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Origin of euhemerism
First recorded in 1840–50; Euhemer(us) + -ism
OTHER WORDS FROM euhemerism
eu·he·mer·ist, nouneu·he·mer·is·tic, adjectiveeu·he·mer·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby euhemerism
euglobulin, euglycemia, eugnathia, eugonic, euhedral, euhemerism, euhemerize, Euhemerus, Eukaryota, Eukaryotae, eukaryote
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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, nouneuhemeristic, adjectiveeuhemeristically, adverbWord Origin for euhemerism
C19: named after Euhemerus (?300 bc), Greek philosopher who propounded this theory
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012