myth
//mɪθ//
Forms
- Plural
- myths
Definitions
1.A traditional story which embodies a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; a sacred narrative regarding a god, a hero, the origin of the world or of a people, etc.
- Jacobsen's theory about the empty storehouse is still valid, for a myth never has one meaning only; a myth is a polyphonic fugue of many voices.
2.Such stories as a genre.
3.A commonly-held but false belief, a common misconception; a fictitious or imaginary person or thing; a popular conception about a real person or event which exaggerates or idealizes reality.
- Scientists debunk the myth that gum stays in the human stomach for seven years.
4.A person or thing held in excessive or quasi-religious awe or admiration based on popular legend
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3293
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Ancient Greek μῦθος (mûthos, “word, humour, companion, speech, account, rumour, fable”).
Attested in English since 1830.
Doublet of mythos.