mythology

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) The collection of myths of a people, concerning the origin of the people, history, deities, ancestors and heroes.
2. (countable, uncountable) A similar body of myths concerning an event, person or institution.
3. (countable, uncountable) Pervasive elements of a fictional universe that resemble a mythological universe.
4. (countable, uncountable) The set of misconceptions and false attitudes that are held about something and contribute to its perception.
5. (uncountable) The systematic collection and study of myths.

Synonyms

myth

fairy tale

legend

allegory

mythologies

myths

parable

Translations

mythologie

mitologia

Mythologie

mitología

mythologie

mitoloji

Pronounced as (IPA)

/mɪˈθɒl.ə.d͡ʒi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: -

In summary

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