'mythicize' originates from English combination of 'mythic' + the productive suffix '-ize' (from Greek/French/Latin formation patterns), where 'mythic' comes ultimately from Greek 'mythos' meaning 'story, word'.

'mythic' derived from Greek 'mythos' passed into Latin and Old French as 'mythe'/'mythus' and into Middle English as 'myth'/'mythic', and the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (from Greek -izein via Latin/French) produced 'mythicize' in modern English.

Initially elements meant 'story' or 'speech' (from Greek 'mythos'), and combining with '-ize' produced a verb meaning 'to make or treat as myth' — the core sense has remained focused on turning narrative or figure into a mythic form, though usages have extended to stylistic/ideological senses like 'romanticize' or 'deify'.