canonize
/ˈkanənʌɪz
/(also canonise)
verb [with object]
1(In the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint: he was the last English saint to be canonized prior to the Reformation...
- Judaism does not canonize people as saints nor does it demand the performance of miracles from its heroes.
- Eventually, because of her contributions, she was canonized as a saint by the church.
- From soon after his death posthumous miracles had begun to be attributed to him, and he was officially canonised by Pope John XXII in 1320.
Synonyms
beatify, declare to be a saint
1.1Regard as being above reproach or of great significance: we have canonized freedom of speech as an absolute value overriding all others...
- By presenting the regime's ideology as the criterion for judgment he abolishes it as a subject for inquiry and awards it a moral and canonized status, which stands above any questioning or criticism.
- Some history books have canonized people who have ravaged the rich and shared the treasure with the poor.
- You are practically canonizing parents - saying that They Love You More Than Life Itself; They Have Your Best Interests At Heart; They Only Want What's Best For You.
2Sanction by Church authority.Although his version of the myth has become canonized, many of his details were inventions or alterations....
- The contents of the New Testament were formalized by Athanasius of Alexandria in 367 CE, and finally canonized in 382 CE.
- Scripture was vetted and canonized, and a creed adopted and reaffirmed against those who would challenge, alter, or undermine it.
Derivatives
canonization
/ noun ...- Pope John's canonization should help to illuminate the constants in his spiritual journey.
- This campaign has caused dismay to many Catholic historians, especially in view of the fact that the canonization of a saint may be viewed as an authoritative, if not quasi-infallible, papal act.
- From the moment of his death and canonization two years later, the saga of Francis of Assisi has been retold and reshaped.
Origin
Late Middle English: from late Latin canonizare 'admit as authoritative' (in medieval Latin 'admit to the list of recognized saints'), from Latin canon (see canon1).