Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense canonizes, present participle canonizing, past tense, past participle canonizedregional note: in BRIT, also use canonise
verb [usually passive]
If a dead person is canonized, it is officially announced by the Catholic Church that he or she is a saint.
Joan of Arc was finally canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. [beVERB-ed]
canonization (kænənaɪzeɪʃən, US -nɪz-)uncountable noun
...a celebration of the saint's canonization.
canonize in British English
or canonise (ˈkænəˌnaɪz)
verb(transitive)
1. Roman Catholic Church
to declare (a person) to be a saint and thus admit to the canon of saints
2.
to regard as holy or as a saint
3.
to sanction by canon law; pronounce valid
Derived forms
canonization (ˌcanoniˈzation) or canonisation (ˌcanoniˈsation)
noun
canonize in American English
(ˈkænənˌaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcanonˌized or ˈcanonˌizing
1.
to declare (a deceased person) a saint in formal church procedure
2.
to glorify
3.
to put in the Biblical canon
4.
to give church sanction or authorization to
Derived forms
canonization (ˌcanoniˈzation)
noun
Word origin
ME canonizen < LL(Ec) canonizare: see canon1 + -ize