What does apotheosize mean?
To apotheosize means to treat a person or thing as a god — either literally, by according them divine status, or figuratively, by praising or idealizing them to an extravagant degree. The verb derives from the Greek-derived noun apotheosis, which in the ancient world described the official elevation of mortals, notably Roman emperors, into the ranks of the gods. In modern usage, apotheosize appears mostly in literary criticism, history, and cultural commentary: biographers may be said to apotheosize their subjects, and fans to apotheosize celebrities or artists. Because it implies a raising-up from the human to the divine, the word often carries a faintly skeptical tone, suggesting that admiration has gone beyond what is warranted. It is a formal term, rarer than synonyms such as deify or glorify, but valuable precisely for its precision and classical resonance.
verbTo apotheosize is to elevate someone or something to the status of a god, or to glorify or idealize a person or thing to an extreme degree.
- To make a god of; to deify (a person).
- To glorify, exalt, or idealize someone or something to an extreme degree.
"The cult gradually began to apotheosize its founder, attributing miracles to him after his death."
"After his death, admirers began to apotheosize the poet, treating his every scribbled note as sacred text."
"Critics accused the documentary of apotheosizing its subject rather than examining him honestly."
The ancient Romans literally voted to turn dead emperors into gods — a process called apotheosis — and 'apotheosize' is the verb that captures that audacious act of making someone divine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of apotheosize
Apotheosize comes from the Greek apothéōsis, meaning 'deification', formed from apotheoun ('to deify'), which combines apo- ('from') with theos ('god'). The term passed into Latin as apotheosis and entered English in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, initially describing the elevation of Roman emperors to divine rank. The verb form developed later from this noun, retaining both its literal sense of making a god of someone and its extended sense of extreme glorification. Related words sharing the Greek root theos include atheism and theology.
Related word forms
How apotheosize is actually used
A formal, literary word, most often found in critical, historical, or religious writing. It frequently carries a slightly critical connotation when used figuratively, implying that excessive admiration has distorted judgment.
Easily confused with apotheosize
Apostatize means to abandon or renounce one's religious faith, whereas apotheosize means to raise someone or something to divine status.