mythopoeia

[ mith-uh-pee-uh ]

noun

1. a mythopoeic act, circumstance, characteristic, etc.

mythopoeia

/ ˌmɪθəpəʊˈiːsɪs; ˌmɪθəʊˈpiːə /

noun

1. the composition or making of myths

Word History and Origins

Origin of mythopoeia¹

1955–60; < Late Latin < Greek mȳthopoiía making of fables, invention, equivalent to mȳtho- mytho- + -poiia ( poi ( eîn ) to make + -ia noun suffix)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mythopoeia¹

C19: from Greek, from muthopoiein, from muthos myth + poiein to make

Example Sentences

Their exchange serves as a reminder that, for all its responsiveness to current events, Smith’s quartet is also developing into a new mythopoeia – a constellation of stories capable of capturing and expressing our space and time with a truth that is beyond the news feeds.

From The Guardian

Mythopoeia is a collection of paintings by Iain Andrews which are a "direct response" to the historic works on show at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery.

From BBC

Mythopoeia, which also includes a collection of Iain Andrews' preparatory sketches and studies alongside the reworkings, is at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery until 12 January 2013.

From BBC

JRR Tolkien referred to fantasy writing as mythopoeia, the creation of myth for the modern era.

From The Guardian

For mythopoeia is just this, the incarnating the spirit of natural fact; and the generic name of that power is Art.

From Project Gutenberg