Apotheosize is a verb that means to idolize or elevate to the rank of a god.
The Root word of apotheosize is apotheosis, a noun, coming directly from Greek, that refers to the process of turning someone into a god. Our word of the day is the verb variation of it. Here’s an example to illustrate the differences in how the words are used:
After the battle, the crowd seemed eager to apotheosize the brave captain. But in my experience, that kind of apotheosis does nothing but inflate the ego of men to the point of making them unbearable.