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EUHEMERISM

 - 3 dictionary results

eu⋅he⋅mer⋅ism

  [yoo-hee-muh-riz-uhm, -hem-uh-]
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–noun
1. (often initial capital letter) the theory of Euhemerus that the mythologies of various gods arose out of the deification of dead heroes.
2. the theory that mythology is derived from history.
Origin:
1840–50; Euhemer(us) + -ism

Related forms:
eu⋅he⋅mer⋅ist, noun
eu⋅he⋅mer⋅is⋅tic, adjective
eu⋅he⋅mer⋅is⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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eu·he·mer·ism   (yōō-hē'mə-rĭz'əm, -hěm'ə-)   
n.  A theory attributing the origin of the gods to the deification of historical heroes.

[After Euhemerus, fourth-century B.C. Greek philosopher.]
eu·he'mer·ist n., eu·he'mer·is'tic adj., eu·he'mer·is'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

Euhemerism 
1846, "the method of regarding myths as glorified accounts of actual events or persons," from Euhemerus of Sicily (4c. B.C.E.), who wrote "Iera Anagraphe," in which he maintained the Gk. deities were actually historical mortals.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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