mythical
/ˈmɪθɪkl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪθɪkl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-thi-kəl/ (ame, mw)
mythical — adjective
- mythicalpositive
- more mythicalcomparative
- most mythicalsuperlative
1. appearing in ancient stories about gods and heroes, but not part of recorded his
appearing in ancient stories about gods and heroes, but not part of recorded history — for example, a creature with the body of a horse and the head of a lion.
Antonia read a bedtime story about a mythical dragon that guarded a mountain pass.
mythical + noun (creature)
The phoenix is a mythical bird that bursts into flames and is reborn from its own ashes.
mythical + noun used in identifying sentence
Tour guides at the temple told Felipe stories about mythical heroes who fought against giants.
Children at the museum drew pictures of mythical beasts they had read about in Greek legends.
- legendary
often used the same way for story-creatures, but also has the 'extremely famous' shade
- mythological
more formal; usually refers to the system of myths rather than a single creature
- folkloric
leans toward regional folk traditions rather than classical myth
- historical
actually happened and is recorded as fact
- real
exists in the physical world
文法句型
mythical + noun
be + mythical
用法筆記
Subject is usually a creature, hero, place, or object from a named tradition (Greek, Norse, Chinese, etc.). Distinguish from sense 2: mythical here means the thing belongs to a body of old stories, not just that it is imaginary in general.
常見錯誤
2. imagined rather than true — used when someone treats an idea, person, or thing a
imagined rather than true — used when someone treats an idea, person, or thing as if it existed, but in fact it does not.
Yael argued that the perfect work-life balance is mythical for parents of young children.
be + mythical (predicative, abstract subject)
Politicians keep promising a mythical tax cut that somehow pays for itself.
mythical + abstract noun (sceptical tone)
The diet book sells a mythical shortcut to losing weight without changing what you eat.
Zayd is still waiting for the mythical day when his teenage sons clean their rooms.
- imaginary
neutral; just means 'exists only in the mind'
- fictitious
formal; often used in legal or factual writing about invented people or claims
- fabled
leans poetic, often suggests admiration as well as unreality
文法句型
mythical + noun
be + mythical
用法筆記
Often used with a sceptical or humorous tone about something the speaker thinks does not really exist. Common objects: solution, balance, shortcut, day. Distinguish from sense 1: here there is no link to old stories — only the speaker's claim that the thing is imaginary.
常見錯誤
3. so famous and admired that people talk about it the way they talk about characte
so famous and admired that people talk about it the way they talk about characters from old legends — for example, a player whose great match is retold for decades.
Soraya's grandmother is mythical in the village for the spicy beef noodles she sells every Sunday.
be + mythical for + reason (predicative)
Fans still tell stories about the goalkeeper's mythical save in the 1998 final.
mythical + event noun (admiring tone)
The old jazz club on Elm Street has near mythical status among musicians from the eighties.
Christopher was treated like a mythical figure by the younger climbers after his solo ascent.
文法句型
mythical + noun
almost / near mythical
用法筆記
Always carries admiration. Often follows 'near', 'almost', or 'like a'. Distinguish from sense 1 (a creature from old stories) and sense 2 (something the speaker thinks is not real): here the thing IS real, just very famous in its world.