Etymology

euhemerism

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Today it means: The belief that legends and mythology arise from exaggerated descriptions of historical people and events. Full definition →

Latin Euhēmerus ← Ancient Greek Εὐήμερος
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The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromΕὐήμερος
  2. Latin · derived fromEuhēmerus
  3. English todayeuhemerism

From Euhemerus + -ism, 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.

Words from the same roots

LatinEuhēmerus all →

euhemeristeuhemeristicEuhemerus

Ancient GreekΕὐήμερος all →

euhemeristeuhemeristicEuhemerus

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.