human-deifying
|hu-man-de-i-fy-ing|
/ˈhjuːmən ˈdiːɪfaɪɪŋ/
(deify)
make into a god
Etymology
'human-deifying' is a modern English compound formed from 'human' + the present participle 'deifying'. 'Deify' originates from Late Latin 'deificāre', where Latin 'deus' meant 'god' and 'facere' meant 'to make'.
'Deify' changed from Late Latin 'deificāre' into Old/Middle English forms via ecclesiastical and French usage and eventually became the modern English verb 'deify'; 'human-deifying' is a transparent compound formed in modern English by combining 'human' and the participle.
Initially, the Latin root meant 'to make into a god'; over time this core meaning has remained largely stable, now expressed in English as 'to treat as or make into a god'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle/gerund form indicating the action of making humans into gods or treating humans as divine (i.e., deifying humans).
The media were accused of human-deifying the athlete after every minor success.
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Adjective 1
describing something that treats humans as gods or elevates humans to divine status; tending to deify people.
The human-deifying rhetoric surrounding the leader made rational criticism difficult.
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Last updated: 2025/10/13 20:00