1. Plural of euhemerism; interpretations or explanations of myths, legends, or religious figures as accounts of real historical people or events that have been exaggerated or distorted over time.
Usage: academic; literary criticism; mythology studies

Examples

• Scholars have proposed various euhemerisms to explain the origins of Greek gods as ancient kings and heroes.
• The euhemerisms in ancient texts often reveal how cultures transformed historical figures into divine beings.
• Some historians use euhemerisms to separate fact from fiction in legendary accounts.
• The study of euhemerisms helps us understand how myths develop from real historical events.
• Ancient writers employed euhemerisms to make religious narratives seem more credible to their audiences.