Myth

Myth, mith, n. a fable, a legend, a fabulous narrative founded on a remote event, esp. those made in the early period of a people's existence: an invented story: a falsehood.—adjs. Myth′ic, -al, relating to myths: fabulous: untrue.—adv. Myth′ically.—ns. Myth′icist, Myth′iciser, an adherent of the mythical theory; Myth′ist, a maker of myths; Mythogen′esis, the production of, or the tendency to originate, myths; Mythog′rapher, a writer or narrator of myths; Mythog′raphy, representation of myths in graphic or plastic art, art-mythology; Mythol′oger, Mytholō′gian, a mythologist.—adjs. Mytholog′ic, -al, relating to mythology, fabulous.—adv. Mytholog′ically.—v.t. Mythol′ogise, to interpret or explain myths: to render mythical.—ns. Mythol′ogiser, one who, or that which, mythologises; Mythol′ogist, one versed in, or who writes on, mythology; Mythol′ogy, the myths or stories of a country: a treatise regarding myths: a collection of myths: the science which investigates myths; Mython′omy, the deductive and predictive stage of mythology; Myth′oplasm, a narration of mere fable; Mythopœ′ist, a myth-maker.—adjs. Mythopoet′ic, Mythopœ′ic, myth-making, tending to generate myth.—n. Myth′us, the same as myth:—pl. Myth′ī.—Mythical theory, the theory of D. F. Strauss (1808-74) and his school, that the Gospels are mainly a collection of myths, developed during the first two centuries, from the imagination of the followers of Jesus; Comparative mythology, the science which investigates myths and seeks to relate those of different races. [Gr. mythos.]