[myth] n [Gk mythos] (1830) 1 a: a usu. traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon b: parable, allegory
2. a: a popular belief or tradition that has grown up around something or someone; esp: one embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or segment of society "seduced by the American ~ of individualism --Orde Coombs" b: an unfounded or false notion
3: a person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence
4: the whole body of myths