apotheosis
/əˌpɒθɪˈəʊsɪs
/noun (plural apotheoses /əˌpɒθɪˈəʊsiːz/)
1The highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax: his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career...
- ‘It was certainly the most satisfying moment of my life,’ he said later, the apotheosis of a career which had many highs and indelible lows.
- I have long sung his praises but his work on this play, a work he admits in a programme note is close to his heart, must rank as the apotheosis of his career so far, though I have to say I tremble as to what he will present us with next year.
- William Blake's engravings at the end of his career are the apotheosis of engraving as a creative linear technique.
Synonyms
culmination, climax, crowning moment, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenith, apex, acme, apogee, high point, highest point, height, high water mark
2The elevation of someone to divine status: death spared Pompey the task of having to account for the apotheosis of Caesar...
- More important, allegory was deemed the best vehicle for representing apotheosis, the painter's access to immortal status, an idea integral to the project from the start.
- If density is the soul of the city, this is its spiritual or, better, commercial apotheosis.
- His famous objection to the apotheosis of the bald eagle as the new nation's symbol is characteristic.
Origin
Late 16th century: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apotheōsis, from apotheoun 'make a god of', from apo 'from' + theos 'god'.