apotheosis

noun

apo·​the·​o·​sis ə-ˌpä-thē-ˈō-səs  ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-səs 

plural apotheoses ə-ˌpä-thē-ˈō-ˌsēz 

ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-ˌsēz

1

a

: the perfect form or example of something : quintessence

the apotheosis of Hollywood glamour

… Nelson Rockefeller, the other top contender and the apotheosis of liberal Republicanism.

—Sam Tanenhaus

b

: the highest or best part of something : peak

The city reaches its apotheosis at the holiday …

—David Leavin

2

: elevation to divine status : deification

the apotheosis of Roman emperors

apotheosize

ˌa-pə-ˈthē-ə-ˌsīz 

ə-ˈpä-thē-ə-

transitive verb

Did you know?

Among the ancient Greeks, it was sometimes thought fitting to grant someone "god" status. Hence the word apothéōsis, from the verb apotheóō or apotheoûn, meaning "to deify." (All are rooted in Greek theós, meaning "god," which we can also thank for such religion-related terms as theology and atheism.). There's not a lot of literal apotheosizing to be had in modern English, but apotheosis is thriving in the 21st century. It can refer to the highest or best part of something, as in "the celebration reaches its apotheosis in an elaborate feast," or to a perfect example or ultimate form, as in "a movie that is the apotheosis of the sci-fi genre."

Synonyms

• acme
• beau ideal
• byword
• classic
• epitome
• exemplar
• ideal
• perfection
• quintessence

Examples of apotheosis in a Sentence

the apotheosis of the picaresque novel

Recent Examples on the Web

The costumes by Colleen Atwood are predictably terrific, but this Alice is otherwise an eyesore, the apotheosis of Burton’s whimsical/magical shtick. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024

While there have been notable boxing films after Raging Bull (Ali, The Fighter, Creed), and with all respect to Sylvester Stallone and Apollo vs. Rocky, the final battle between Jake and Sugar Ray possibly reflects the apotheosis of the genre. —Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024

As a matter of technique, the artist’s SECONDARY then represents a kind of apotheosis of such an approach, magnified here in evocative superimpositions. —Tim Griffin, Artforum, 1 May 2022

But Figes clearly sees Stalinism as the apotheosis of the Soviet regime. —Keith Gessen, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2014

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin apotheōsis "transformation into a god, deification," borrowed from Greek apothéōsis, from apotheō-, variant stem of apotheóō, apotheoûn "to transform into a god, deify" (from apo- apo- + theoûn "to make a god of," verbal derivative of theós "god") + -sis -sis — more at theo-

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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