WotD - apotheosis

apotheosis

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [ê-pah-thee-'o-sis]

Definition: Elevation to divine status, to the position of a god; an absolutely perfect example. (For more on the religious implications of this term see: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01650b.htm.)

Usage: The original meaning of elevating someone to the status of a god has fallen into some desuetude but it still has a function to serve, "The apotheosis of Elvis Presley in the pop music world makes sighting him a religious experience." The sense of a shining example is more common: "Osama bin Laden has become our apotheosis of an enemy of democracy."

Suggested Usage: Like all words in English that end on –sis in the singular ("crisis," "oasis," "basis"), today's word pluralizes by replacing –is with –es: "apotheoses." The verb is "apotheosize" [ê-pê-'thee-ê-sIz]. The interior of the cupola of the Capital building in Washington is adorned by Constantino Brumidi's "The Apotheosis of George Washington," featuring the first president in the company of the gods of Liberty and Fame plus 13 other feminine figures representing the original states.

uhhh.
i dun understand. AT ALL. O.o

me also, LOL!