mythical

[Benjamin Barrett]

It sounds like "epic" or "classic" would work.

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On Jan 19, 2012, at 11:08 AM, Victor Steinbok wrote:

> Rick Perry is finally quitting his presidential campaign today. The news
> has prompted comments such as this one (actually, these comments have
> been popping up for the past two months, and not just about Perry).
>
>> He had a downright mythical flameout. I seriously look forward to the
>> books from former campaign staff.
>
> "Mythical" seems to be the wrong word here. But I've seen this usage before.
>
> The closest OED comes to it is #4.
>
>> 4. That has acquired an idealized or exaggerated reputation on the
>> basis of popular rumour. Cf. mythic adj. 2.
>
> Except that it's really not the same--it's more of an opposite. It was
> the stuff of legends. Which is why we sometimes call it "legendary". Or
> is "legendary" reserved for positive accomplishments? Is there a better
> substitute here?
>
>     VS--)

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org