Lionises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To regard someone with deep admiration and respect while highlighting their achievements and virtues, thereby elevating their status to one of honor and significance
2. To treat a person as a famous or important figure, often by showing great admiration and respect
3. To celebrate someone publicly by giving them special attention and praise

Etymology: This is an inflected form, so it gets a short note. "Lionises" is the third-person singular present of "lionise," a verb meaning to treat someone as a celebrity worthy of honour. The verb is built from "lion" plus the suffix "-ise," a Greek-derived ending that passed into English through Medieval Latin and Old French, where it turned nouns and adjectives into verbs of making or treating something a certain way. So "lionise" literally means to treat someone as a lion, the animal that stood for courage and nobility, and "lionises" applies that treatment to a third party.

Synonyms: idolizes, celebrates, honors, venerates, applauds

Antonyms: disdains, criticizes, denigrates, ignores, belittles