apotheosis

Advancedzipf 2.43

Pronunciation

/əˌpɒθiˈəʊsɪs/(uh-poth-ee-OH-sis)

Part of speech

nounformal

Chinese

典范；顶峰；神化

Definition

The highest point in the development of something; the elevation of someone to divine status.

Word family

  • apotheosize/əˈpɒθiəsaɪz/(v)神化

Collocations

  • the apotheosis of
  • reach an apotheosis
  • cultural apotheosis
  • apotheosis of art

Examples

  1. 1.Many consider the iPhone the apotheosis of smartphone design. (pinnacle, highest example)
  2. 2.Roman emperors often underwent apotheosis after death, being worshipped as gods. (elevation to divine status)

Synonyms

  • pinnacle/ˈpɪnəkəl/— highest point
  • zenith/ˈzɛnɪθ/— peak
  • culmination/ˌkʌlmɪˈneɪʃən/— highest point of development

Etymology

from Greek "apotheosis" — apo- (from) + theos (god) — making into a god — the ultimate elevation