'deific' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'deificus', where 'deus' meant 'god' and '-ficus' meant 'making' or 'producing'.

'deific' changed from the Late Latin word 'deificus' (related to the verb 'deificare', to make a god) and, via learned borrowings into English, became the modern English adjective 'deific'.

Initially, it meant 'causing or effecting deification' (making into a god), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'of or like a god; divine'.