mythos

noun

my·​thos ˈmi-ˌthōs How to pronounce mythos (audio)
-ˌthäs
plural mythoi ˈmi-ˌthȯi How to pronounce mythos (audio)
1
2
: a pattern of beliefs expressing often symbolically the characteristic or prevalent attitudes in a group or culture
3
: theme, plot
the starving artist mythos

Examples of mythos in a Sentence

according to one creation mythos, humans sprang from the forehead of a god the Superman mythos has long since become ingrained in popular American culture
Recent Examples on the Web During the Ghost’s search for Darth Maul, Sabine discovers the Darksaber, the mysterious blade tied to the mythos of Mandalore. Jordan Moreau, Variety, 22 Aug. 2023 Meanwhile, the microphone’s mythos has splintered off into its own narrative. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023 Winder spotlights how the vast influence of these women on the Stones has largely been hidden in the shadow of the band’s monolithic mythos. Jessica Hopper, Washington Post, 13 July 2023 But because Harding wishes to make Ethan part of a larger mythos, his character stiffens into the stuff of sermon or lecture. Mark Athitakis, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2023 Spider-Bots are a relatively recent addition to the Spider-Man mythos, but have become quite ubiquitous in the time since their addition. Dan Gvozden, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 June 2023 Keaton had to shoulder the legacy of a fanbase’s lingering resentment toward what was then the most popular of Batman adaptations, the eternally campy ’60s Adam West TV series that drained every drop of menace and danger from the mythos. Vulture, 17 June 2023 Rolling Stone’s profile, from March, reported that Tate exaggerated his mythos and that his misogynistic empire was built on baseless braggadocio. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2023 The sequel both honors and reimagines the Spider-Man mythos for a new generation of movie fans with an artistic bent, a love for its characters and a willingness to break the rules to create something special. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 31 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mythos.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek mŷthos "utterance, speech, discourse, tale, narrative, fiction, legend," of obscure origin

First Known Use

1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of mythos was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near mythos

Cite this Entry

“Mythos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mythos. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

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