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mythopoeic

[mith-uh-pee-ik]
adjective
  1. of or relating to the making of myths; causing, producing, or giving rise to myths.
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Also myth·o·po·et·ic [mith-uh-poh-et-ik] /ˌmɪθ ə poʊˈɛt ɪk/.

Origin of mythopoeic

1840–50; < Greek mȳthopoi(ós) making tales (mȳtho- mytho- + -poios making (poi(eîn) to make + -os adj. suffix) + -ic
Related formsmyth·o·poe·ism, nounmyth·o·poe·ist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mythopoeic

Historical Examples

  • The early Greek physicists thought that mythopoeic men had been physicists.

    Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1

    Andrew Lang

  • The believer reasoned from his own prejudiced and mythopoeic conception of people whom he disliked.

  • A somewhat higher stage of mythopoeic development is represented by peoples of Oceania and North America.

  • Nevertheless, even in the mythopoeic tales there is a kindred character.

  • Symonds treats it as an allegory in harmony with the mythopoeic genius of Greek poetry.

British Dictionary definitions for mythopoeic

mythopoeic

adjective
  1. of or relating to the composition of myths; productive of myths
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Derived Formsmythopoeism, nounmythopoeist, noun
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 mythopoeic

adj.

"pertaining to the creation of myths," 1846, from Greek mytho-, comb. form of mythos (see myth) + poiein "to make, create" (see poet).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper