Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - mythology

 noun  (plural -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 ~  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  • mythologer noun  • mythologist noun