apotheosis

Definition

The fact or action of becoming or making into a god; deification.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Hellenic *apó Ancient Greek ᾰ̓πό (ăpó) Ancient Greek ἀπο- (apo-) Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *dʰéh₁s Proto-Hellenic *tʰehós Ancient Greek θεός (theós) Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-oyétider.? Ancient Greek -όω (-óō) Ancient Greek ἀποθεόω (apotheóō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Ancient Greek -τις (-tis) Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs) Ancient Greek ἀποθέωσις (apothéōsis)bor. Latin apotheōsisbor. English apotheosis Borrowed from Latin apotheōsis, from Ancient Greek ἀποθέωσις (apothéōsis), from verb ἀποθεόω (apotheóō, “deify”) (factitive verb formed from θεός (theós, “God”) with intensive prefix ἀπο- (apo-)) + -σις (-sis, “forms noun of action”). By surface analysis, apo- + theo- + -sis.

Example Sentences

• "In Rome itself the official position was clear: the apotheosis of the emperor took place only after his death; this had to be officially recognized by the Senate, and only then did the emperor become a divus with an official cult."
• "As a former mortal who underwent apotheosis, Hercules was important to the emperors."
• "The turn of the century saw the apotheosis of digital technology."