euhemerize

present singular third person euhemerizes · participle present euhemerizing · participle past euhemerized · past euhemerized · alternative UK euhemerise

1. ambitransitivederogatoryTo invent a plausible but fanciful historical origin for something in order to rationalize mythology and legends.

   Confucian scholars frequently euhemerized the myths used to explain religious rituals to the public.

   3 more examples

   Near-synonyms: demythologize (sometimes synonymous), undeify (synonymous when personages are the direct objects)

   He did but extend to the New Testament the Euhemerising principles which Eichhorn had applied to the Old.

   1871, Frederic William Farrar, The Witness of History to Christ, page 57

   The legend of Semiramis was a euhemerised version of the story of Istar.

   1887 September 3, I. Taylor, The Academy, page 143

   Synonyms: demythologize, undeify[personage]]s are the direct objects>, rationalize

2. ambitransitiveTo create mythology and legends from ancient historical figures and events.

   Near-synonym: deify (synonymous when personages are the direct objects)

   1 more example

   The Yellow Emperor was perhaps euhemerized from a prehistoric tribal leader.

   Synonyms: mythologize, deify[personage]]s are the direct objects>