Is there a verb for 'to make heroic'? Something like 'heroicised'?

Question

As per the title, is there a verb for 'to make heroic'? Something like 'heroicised'?

EDIT: For example, talking about how an author elevated a character in a memoir to heroic status.

Answer 1

Lionize (US spelling):

To treat (a person) as if he were important, or a celebrity.

I've never heard "heroize" (given in other answers) used in the wild.

Answer 2

The word is heroize, or alternatively spelled, heroise. The act is called heroization.

It means both, to:

make someone into a hero

and

treat someone as if they were a hero.

Answer 3

The Oxford English Dictionary has entries for heroify and heroize, both with the meaning ‘to make a hero of’.

Answer 4

As per the title, is there a verb for 'to make heroic'? Something like 'heroicised'?

I'm wondering what you mean by "to make heroic." From the pages of Wordnik:

heroic (adj)
• Having or displaying the character or attributes of a hero; daring; intrepid; determined
• Of or pertaining to heroes; suitable to the character of a hero; bold, daring, noble, or commanding
• Showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort
• Having or displaying qualities appropriate for heroes
• Of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

So, what does "to make heroic" mean? That expression could mean, to cause or impel someone to act in a more heroic manner, although I think it usually means to regard or deem as a hero.

As for the latter interpretation, as others have said, you could use the word heroize, but, depending on your context, there might be better ways to say it – such as, "He was heralded as a hero." Without much additional context to draw from, it's hard to know if heroize would be your best option. When talking about an athlete, for example, instead of saying:

He was heroized during the championship tournament.

it might be better to say:

The championship tournament was his defining moment.

As for the former interpretation, that I wouldn't call that heroization; that sounds more like some kind of crisis training.

Answer 5

I would favour lionise over heroise (adjust -ise to -ize if appropriate to the orthography in use), it's both more common and in my opinion more euphonious.

I'd also suggest considering mythologise, which is wider in meaning, but often appropriate.

Answer 6

From the book "lies my history teacher told me" by Lloewen: He coins the term "heroification".

I think this might be what you're looking for... see this too: heroification

Answer 7

Heroic is defined as the adjective (description) of a hero, so ' the actions were heroic during the disaster'. From dictionary.com:

Related forms he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverb

he·ro·i·cal·ness, he·ro·ic·ness, he·ro·ic·i·ty [heer-oh-is-i-tee]

non·he·ro·ic, adjective

non·he·ro·i·cal, adjective

non·he·ro·i·cal·ly, adverb

dots are to represent syllables.