Main Entry: apo·the·o·sis

Pronunciation: \ə-ˌpä-thē-ˈō-səs, ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-səs\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural apo·the·o·ses \-ˌsēz\

Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek apotheōsis, from apotheoun to deify, from apo- + theos god

Date: circa 1580

1 : elevation to divine status : deification
2 : the perfect example : quintessence <this is the literary apotheosis of the shaggy dog story — Thomas Sutcliffe>

— apo·the·o·size \ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-ˌsīz, ə-ˈpä-thē-ə-\ transitive verb