euhemerism

Euhemerism is defined as the theory of the Greek writer Euhemerus that the Greek gods were created from real stories about humans and historical events.

(noun)

An example of euhemerism is imagining that characteristics of Zeus are based on the actions of a real person.

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See euhemerism in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the theory of the Greek writer Euhemerus (4th cent. ) that the gods of mythology were deified human beings; theory that myths are based on traditional accounts of real people and events

Origin: < L Euhemerus (< Gr Euhēmeros) + -ism

Related Forms:

See euhemerism in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
A theory attributing the origin of the gods to the deification of historical heroes.

Origin:

Origin: After Euhemerus, fourth-century B.C. Greek philosopher

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Related Forms:

  • eu·heˈmer·ist noun
  • eu·heˌmer·isˈtic adjective
  • eu·heˌmer·isˈti·cal·ly adverb
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