euhemerize

Etymology
From, ultimately from , from , 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.

Verb

 * 1)  To invent a plausible but fanciful historical origin for something in order to explain away mythology and legends.
 * : to actually create mythology and legends from ancient historical figures and events.
 * : to actually create mythology and legends from ancient historical figures and events.
 * : to actually create mythology and legends from ancient historical figures and events.
 * : 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 and. As an intransitive verb, typically used with into and out of.

Synonyms

 * See

Translations

 * French:
 * Portuguese: evemerizar