apotheosis

apo·the·o·sis

noun
\ə-ˌpä-thē-ˈō-səs, ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-səs\

plural apo·the·o·ses\-ˌsēz\

Definition of APOTHEOSIS

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

Examples of APOTHEOSIS

1. <the apotheosis of the picaresque novel>

Origin of APOTHEOSIS

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

First Known Use: circa 1580

Related to APOTHEOSIS

Synonyms: acme, quintessence, beau ideal, byword, classic, epitome, exemplar, ideal, perfection

Related Words: archetype, model, prototype; paradigm, standard; nonpareil, paragon; abstract, avatar, embodier, embodiment, incarnation, incorporation, manifestation, personification; height, last word, meridian, ultimate, zenith; benchmark, criterion, touchstone, yardstick

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Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary