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.

Nearby words

eugnathia, eugonic, eugène, eugénie, euhedral, euhemerism, euhemerize, euhemerus, eukaryotae, eukaryote, eukaryotic

Origin of euhemerism

First recorded in 1840–50; Euhemer(us) + -ism

Related formseu·he·mer·ist, nouneu·he·mer·is·tic, adjectiveeu·he·mer·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for euhemerism

The Euhemerism of this is hardly like the wonder-loving Jones.
British Goblins|Wirt Sikes
Euhemerism is ordinarily rather an unproductive and hazardous approach for the historian.
Francis Drake and the California Indians, 1579|Robert F. Heizer
It has not, however, come to euhemerism in the case of Huitzilopochtli, though it has with Huitziton.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 3|Hubert Howe Bancroft
The first passage is remarkable as showing that Plato was entirely free from what may be termed the Euhemerism of his age.
Phaedrus|Plato

They both apply the principles of Euhemerism to resolve the bright creations of the old mythology into their original elements.
The Roman Poets of the Republic|William Young Sellar

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 Formseuhemerist, nouneuhemeristic, adjectiveeuhemeristically, adverb

Word 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

Word Origin and History for euhemerism

euhemerism

1846, "the method of regarding myths as glorified accounts of actual events or persons," from Euhemerus of Sicily (4c. B.C.E.), who wrote "Iera Anagraphe," in which he maintained the Greek deities actually were historical mortals. His name is literally "good day," from eu "well" (see eu-) + hemera "day" (see ephemera). Related: Euhemerist; euhemeristic.