Main Entry: my·thol·o·gy

Pronunciation: \mi-ˈthä-lə-jē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural my·thol·o·gies

Etymology: French or Late Latin; French mythologie, from Late Latin mythologia interpretation of myths, from Greek, legend, myth, from mythologein to relate myths, from mythos + logos speech — more at legend

Date: 1603

1 : an allegorical narrative
2 : a body of myths: as a : the myths dealing with the gods, demigods, and legendary heroes of a particular people b : mythos 2 <cold war mythology>
3 : a branch of knowledge that deals with myth
4 : a popular belief or assumption that has grown up around someone or something : myth 2a <defective mythologies that ignore masculine depth of feeling — Robert Bly>

— my·thol·o·ger \-jər\ noun

— my·thol·o·gist \-jist\ noun