Pronunciation: [dˈe͡ɪfa͡ɪ] (IPA) 
The word "deify" is spelled with a "d" and two "i"s, and is pronounced [ˈdiːɪfaɪ] in IPA phonetic transcription. The "d" sound is voiced, and the first "i" sound is long and pronounced as a "ee" sound. The second "i" sound is short and pronounced as an "ih" sound. The final syllable is pronounced as "fie" with a long "i" sound. The word means to worship or make into a god, and is often used in a religious or spiritual context.
The term "deify" refers to the act of worshiping or regarding someone or something as a deity, particularly by granting divine qualities, powers, or status to them. This verb is commonly used to describe the elevation or exaltation of a person, idea, or object to a godlike or divine level. When one deifies someone, they consider that individual to be worthy of absolute reverence and admiration, attributing them with greatness beyond human limitations.
The act of deifying also entails believing in the supernatural abilities or talents possessed by the individual or entity being deified. It often involves regarding them as infallible, all-knowing, or capable of supernatural interventions. Cultures and religions around the world have a long history of deifying certain individuals, such as legendary heroes, religious figures, rulers, or even certain manifestations of nature or celestial bodies.
Metaphorically, "deify" can also be used to describe how a person is highly idolized or put on a pedestal, without necessarily attributing divine qualities to them. In this sense, one might say a famous actor is "deified" by their fans, meaning they are adored and elevated to an almost godlike status in the eyes of their followers.
Overall, "deify" encapsulates the act of elevating someone or something to a divine or godlike position, valuing them as if they possessed qualities beyond the ordinary human realm.
To exalt to the rank of a god; to reverence or praise excessively; to treat as an object of the highest regard.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "deify" originates from the Latin word "deificare", which is a combination of "deus" meaning "god" and "facere" meaning "to make". Hence, "deificare" translates to "to make into a god". Over time, this Latin term was adapted into Old French as "deifier" and eventually entered the English language in the 14th century as "deify".
