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apotheosis

 - 3 dictionary results

a⋅poth⋅e⋅o⋅sis

  [uh-poth-ee-oh-sis, ap-uh-thee-uh-sis]
Use apotheosis in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ses  [-seez, -seez] .
1. the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.
2. the ideal example; epitome; quintessence: This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression.
Origin:
1570–80; < LL < Gk. See apo-, theo-, -osis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·poth·e·o·sis   (ə-pŏth'ē-ō'sĭs, āp'ə-thē'ə-sĭs)   
n.   pl. a·poth·e·o·ses (-sēz')

  1. Exaltation to divine rank or stature; deification.

  2. Elevation to a preeminent or transcendent position; glorification: "Many observers have tried to attribute Warhol's current apotheosis to the subversive power of artistic vision" (Michiko Kakutani).

  3. An exalted or glorified example: Their leader was the apotheosis of courage.


[Late Latin apotheōsis, from Greek, from apotheoun, to deify : apo-, change; see apo- + theos, god; see dhēs- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

apotheosis 
1605, from L.L. apotheosis, from Gk. apotheosis, from apotheoun "deify, make (someone) a god," from apo- special use of this prefix, meaning, here, "change" + theos "god."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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