MYTH

myth

(noun) a traditional story accepted as history; serves to explain the world view of a people

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

myth (plural myths)

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.

(uncountable) Such stories as a genre.

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.

A person or thing held in excessive or quasi-religious awe or admiration based on popular legend

A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable.

Source: Wiktionary

Myth, n. [Written also mythe.] Etym: [Gr. mythe.]

1. A story of great but unknown age which originally embodied a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; an ancient legend of a god, a hero, the origin of a race, etc.; a wonder story of prehistoric origin; a popular fable which is, or has been, received as historical.

2. A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable. As for Mrs. Primmins's bones, they had been myths these twenty years. Ld. Lytton. Myth history, history made of, or mixed with, myths.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition