The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Apotheosis \Ap`o*the"o*sis\ ([a^]p`[-o]*th[=e]"[-o]*s[i^]s;
   277), n. pl. Apotheoses ([a^]p`[-o]*th[=e]"[-o]*s[=e]z).
   [L., fr. Gr. 'apoqe`wsis, fr. 'apoqewy^n to deify; 'apo` from
   + qewy^n to deify, qeo`s a god.]
   1. The act of elevating a mortal to the rank of, and placing
      him among, "the gods;" deification.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Glorification; exaltation. "The apotheosis of chivalry."
      --Prescott. "The noisy apotheosis of liberty and
      machinery." --F. Harrison.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

apotheosis
    n 1: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no
         equal [syn: ideal, paragon, nonpareil, saint,
         apotheosis, nonesuch, nonsuch]
    2: the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god) [syn:
       deification, exaltation, apotheosis]