legends
Stories passed down
Legends are traditional stories passed down through generations, often featuring heroic figures and supernatural elements: the legend of King Arthur, Greek legends.
A legend is also a person of extraordinary fame: a basketball legend, She's a legend in the industry.
In British slang, legend is high praise for someone impressive or admirable: Thanks mate, you're a legend.
A legend also refers to explanatory text on a map or chart, or a caption beneath an image.
Traditional oral narratives
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- parablesDidactic allegorical tales
- allegoriesSymbolic narrative works
storytelling · bard · griot · minstrel · superstition · customs · tradition · apocryphal
Extended heroic narrative
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- questSeeking journey for something
- chronicleOrdered historical record
- balladNarrative poem or song
narrative · adventures · trilogy · journey · mythos
Traditional untrue narratives
- deitiesWorshipped supernatural beings
- pantheonAll gods of a religion
- titansDominant powerful figures
- minotaurBull-headed humanoid creature
odyssey · creation · underworld · demigods · trickster · shapeshifter
Rabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- AggadahNon-legal rabbinic narratives
- rabbinicOf Jewish religious scholars
- golemAnimated clay servant
- dybbukPossessing spirit, Hebrew lore
Elijah · patriarchs · matriarchs · folklore · Lilith · biblical
Unaffected by eras
- enduringPersisting through time
- eternalLasting without end
- agelessWithout apparent deterioration
- unforgettablePermanently fixed in memory
everlasting · undying · imperishable · legacy · remembered · celebrated · storied · famed
Courage in danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- warriorOne skilled in combat
knight · deeds · glory · gallantry · defender · protector · savior · chivalry
Permanently honored athletes
- luminariesDistinguished influential people
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- superstarsElite famous performers
- titansDominant powerful figures
maestros · virtuosos · trailblazers · immortals · greats · all-time · celebrated · renowned
Spirits of the deceased
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
- paranormalBeyond scientific explanation
specters · hauntings · phantom · wraith · restless · apparitions · cursed · ghostly
folktales
Traditional oral narratives
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- parablesDidactic allegorical tales
allegories · storytelling · bard · griot · minstrel · superstition · customs · tradition · apocryphal · mythologized
saga
Extended heroic narrative
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- questSeeking journey for something
- chronicleOrdered historical record
ballad · narrative · adventures · trilogy · journey · mythos
myths
Traditional untrue narratives
minotaur · odyssey · creation · underworld · demigods · trickster · shapeshifter
Midrash
Rabbinic biblical commentary tradition
dybbuk · Elijah · patriarchs · matriarchs · folklore · Lilith · biblical
timeless
Unaffected by eras
unforgettable · everlasting · undying · imperishable · legacy · remembered · celebrated · storied · famed · indelible
valor
Courage in danger
warrior · knight · deeds · glory · gallantry · defender · protector · savior · chivalry · feats
hall-of-famers
Permanently honored athletes
- luminariesDistinguished influential people
- pioneersFirst to explore territory
- superstarsElite famous performers
titans · maestros · virtuosos · trailblazers · immortals · greats · all-time · celebrated · renowned
ghosts
Spirits of the deceased
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
paranormal · specters · hauntings · phantom · wraith · restless · apparitions · cursed · ghostly
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- cultural heritagefolklore, traditions, customs, folk music revival, museum collections
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- literary formsnovel, novels, novella, poetry, poetry collections
legendstruths
Accurate statements about reality
facts · historical records · verified accounts · reality · nonfiction
legendsnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
unknowns · nonentities · trivia · obscurities · ephemera
legendsnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
unknowns · nonentities · has-beens · ordinary people · commoners
- urban legendsWidely circulated false stories
- living legendRevered person still alive
- American legendsCelebrated stories from U.S. history
- ancient legendsTraditional stories from long ago
- local legendsPlace-specific traditional stories
- legend in one's own timeFame achieved while still alive