Apotheosis
the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god.
the ideal example; epitome; quintessence:
This poem is the apotheosis of lyric expression.
Contemporary Examples
Over the course of these novels, the style becomes increasingly parsimonious, reaching its apotheosis in The Golden Bowl.
Henry James’s 1904 Sordid Little Sex Farce Nathaniel Rich January 29, 2014
These triumphs were seen as the apotheosis of human enterprise and might.
The 2013 Novel of the Year Is… Nathaniel Rich December 29, 2013
That transformation of the brand seems now to have its apotheosis in the arrival of the Tour de France.
A British Start to the Tour de France Forces the English to Wonder: What Does Being English Mean Anymore? Clive Irving July 5, 2014
This kind of combat reached its apotheosis when the guest was an insurance swindler called Emile Savundra.
‘A Fiery Tribune’ Clive Irving August 31, 2013
The apotheosis of anyone is almost always false, and the apotheosis of a pretentious pol is also wicked.
Barack Obama’s Cairo Speech, and His Israel Problem Marty Peretz February 24, 2013
Historical Examples
They have reached the apotheosis of flowerhood—the highest destiny vouchsafed to aught that grows.
Lippincott’s Magazine of Popular Literature and Science, Volume 22. July, 1878. Various
The old town of Cherbourg was experiencing its semi-weekly apotheosis.
The Destroyer Burton Egbert Stevenson
Freehold Villas symbolized the final triumph of Victorian economics, the apotheosis of the prudent and industrious artisan.
Hilda Lessways Arnold Bennett
It is difficult to trace the origin of this new theology, the apotheosis of the Dog.
Lippincott’s Magazine, September, 1885 Various
What would they think of such a—such an apotheosis of degradation in one of your Music Halls at home, eh?
Punch Among the Planets Various
noun (pl) -ses (-siːz)
the elevation of a person to the rank of a god; deification
glorification of a person or thing
a glorified ideal
the best or greatest time or event: the apotheosis of De Niro’s career
n.
1600s, from Late Latin apotheosis “deification,” from Greek apotheosis, from apotheoun “deify, make (someone) a god,” from apo- special use of this prefix, meaning, here, “change” + theos “god” (see Thea).
Read Also:
- Apotheosize
to deify; glorify. Historical Examples The Devas sprung from the Pitris, because it was usual to apotheosize the dead. India: What can it teach us? F. Max Mller verb (transitive) to deify to glorify or idealize v. 1760; see apotheosis + -ize. Related: Apotheosized; apotheosizing. Earlier in same sense was apotheose (1670s).
- Apothesis
n. 1811, from Greek apothesis “a laying up in store; a putting aside,” noun of action from apotithenai “to lay aside,” from apo- “off, away” (see apo-) + tithenai (see theme).
- Apotropaic
intended to ward off evil. Historical Examples But the term “apotropaic” is generally used of expulsive ceremonies in which a whole community takes part. Introduction to the History of Religions Crawford Howell Toy adjective preventing or intended to prevent evil adj. 1883, with -ic + Greek apotropaios “averting evil,” from apotrepein “to turn away, avert,” […]
- Apotropaism
the use of magic and ritualistic ceremony to anticipate and prevent evil.
- Apoun
preposition, adverb This profession keeps constant and secret watch apoun the vocabulary of others.