divinization
UK[ˌdɪvɪnaɪˈzeɪʃən]US[ˌdɪvɪnɪˈzeɪʃən]
n
The act or process of making someone or something divine.
n
The state of being treated as or considered divine.
Morpheme Breakdown
divin
ization
divin
divine
ization
process of making
Etymology
The word 'divinization' charts a conceptual journey from the physical sky to spiritual exaltation. Its core originates in the Proto-Indo-European root dyew-, meaning "to shine," which naturally extended to denote the bright sky and, by association, a sky god. This root evolved into the Latin divinus, meaning "of a god." The suffix -ization, a hybrid of Greek and Latin elements, systematically denotes the process of causing a specific state. Therefore, divinization literally means "the process of making god-like," encapsulating the theological or metaphorical act of elevating a being or concept to a divine status.
Analysis
Structure: divin (divine) + ization (process of making)
- divin: From Latin divinus (of a god, divine). The root is deiwos (god, sky), from Proto-Indo-European dyew- (to shine, sky, god). Functional role: Adjective root meaning "god-like" or "pertaining to a god."
- ization: From Latin -izare (verb-forming suffix) via Greek -izein, combined with the Latin noun-forming suffix -atio (action or process). Functional role: A noun suffix indicating the process or result of making or becoming.
Examples
Some mystical traditions speak of the divinization of the human soul through spiritual practice.
The ancient ritual was aimed at the divinization of the emperor.
Critics argued that the biography bordered on the divinization of a flawed historical figure.