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a·poth·e·o·sis

(ə-pŏth′ē-ōsĭs, ăp′ə-thēə-sĭs)

n. pl. a·poth·e·o·ses (-sēz′)

1. Exaltation to divine rank or stature; deification.

2. Elevation to a preeminent or transcendent position; glorification: "tried to attribute Warhol's current apotheosis to the subversive power of artistic vision" (Michiko Kakutani).

3. An exalted or glorified example: Their leader was the apotheosis of courage.

[Late Latin apotheōsis, from Greek, from apotheoun, to deify : apo-, change; see APO- + theos, god; see dhēs- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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