Dictionary

euhemerism en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /juˈhiməˌɹɪzəm/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /juːˈhiːməˌɹɪzəm/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Euhemerus + -ism, 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.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) The belief that legends and mythology arise from exaggerated descriptions of historical people and events.
   • In regard to the Thracian god Zalmosis, the Hellespontic Greeks interpreted his character and attributes according to the scheme of Euemerism. 1846, George Grote, History of Greece, volume I, page 596:
   • Already before euhemerism saved them by embalming them, [...] they had become in their very being the enlarged shadows of great men and warriors upon the walls of the world. 1936, J. R. R. Tolkien, Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, Norwood, Pa.: Norwood Editions, published 1976, page 24:
   • Then again there was a period of what is sometimes called Euhemerism - the theory that the gods and goddesses had actually once been men and women, historical characters round whom a halo of romance and remoteness had gathered. 1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 10:

Forms

Deriveds

euhemerize · euhemerist · euhemerization · euhemeristic

Synonyms

rationalism · historical theory

Translations (24)

pl euhemeryzm (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · nn euhemerisme (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · ky евгемеризм (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · ja エウヘメリズム (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · ro euhemerism (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · pt evemerismo (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · ru эвгемери́зм (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · it evemerismo (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · sh еухемеризам (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · hy էվգեմերիզմ (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · eo eŭhemerismo (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · la euhemerismus (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · fr évhémérisme (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · el ευημερισμός (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · nb euhemerisme (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · ar يُوهَيْمِرِيَّة (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · eo evemerismo (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · uk евгемери́зм (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · sh euhemerizam (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · es evemerismo (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · fi euhemerismi (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · da euhemerisme (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · sv euhemerism (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends) · io euhemerismo (attribution of a historical origin to myths and legends)