euhemerize

== English == === Alternative forms === euhemerise (UK) === Etymology === From euhemerism +‎ -ize, 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. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /juˈhiməˌɹaɪz/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /juːˈhiːməˌɹaɪz/ === Verb === euhemerize (third-person singular simple present euhemerizes, present participle euhemerizing, simple past and past participle euhemerized) (ambitransitive, derogatory) To invent a plausible but fanciful historical origin for something in order to rationalize mythology and legends. (ambitransitive) Synonym of deify: to actually create mythology and legends from ancient historical figures and events. ==== Usage notes ==== In general, the nonpejorative sense of euhemerize is restricted to discussion of Chinese mythology, where it is applied to the religious veneration of figures from remote prehistory and used to distinguish this from the deification of known historical figures such as Guan Yu and Huang Daopo. As an intransitive verb, typically used with into and out of. ==== Synonyms ==== (fanciful creation of rational explanations for the supernatural): See rationalize ==== Derived terms ==== euhemerization ==== Translations ==== === References === “Euhemerism, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. "euhemerism" in Prof. D.K. Jordan's "Mini-Glossaries" (27 Jan. 2011)