mythology

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The collection of myths of a people, concerning the origin of the people, history, deities, ancestors and heroes.

   Now the great obstacle in tracing the identity of any of the basic forms of worship lies in the vast number of names which appear in the ancient idolatries and mythologies, creating the illusion of a miscellany of gods, whereas many of these different names refer to the same deity. Thus the sun has been personified and worshipped under as many different names as there are nations on the surface of the earth.

2. 2
   noun

   A similar body of myths concerning an event, person or institution.

   This program to distinguish Austria from Germany was important to building a new Austria, but it also indirectly contributed to victim mythology by implying that participation in the Nazi war of conquest was antithetical to Austrian identity.

3. 3
   noun

   Pervasive elements of a fictional universe that resemble a mythological universe.

   This tongue-in-cheek episode is especially fun for people who don’t take their “X-Files” mythology seriously.

4. 4
   noun

   The set of misconceptions and false attitudes that are held about something and contribute to its perception.

   Straight people who do not know, or do not know that they know, any gays, can accept all the mythology about us that is paramount in the propaganda of our enemies.

5. 5
   noun

   the study of myths

6. 6
   noun

   myths collectively

7. 7
   noun

   The systematic collection and study of myths.

Etymology

First attested as Middle English in 1412. From Middle French mythologie, from Latin mythologia, from Ancient Greek μυθολογία (muthología, “legend”) μυθολογέω (muthologéō, “to tell tales”), from μυθολόγος (muthológos, “legend”), from μῦθος (mûthos, “story”) + λέγω (légō, “to say”). By surface analysis, myth + -ology or mytho- + -logy.