c. 1300, deite, "divine nature, godhood, attributes of a god;" late 14c., "a god, God, the Supreme Being or self-existing spirit," from Old French deité, from Late Latin deitatem (nominative deitas) "divine nature," coined by Augustine from Latin deus "god," from PIE *deiwos "god," from root *dyeu- "to shine," in derivatives "sky, heaven, god." From 1580s as "a being to whom a divine or godlike nature is attributed."
