canonize
[ kan-uh-nahyz ]
/ ˈkæn əˌnaɪz /
verb (used with object), can·on·ized, can·on·iz·ing.
Ecclesiastical. to place in the canon of saints.
to glorify.
to make canonical; place or include within a canon, especially of scriptural works: They canonized the Song of Solomon after much controversy.
to consider or treat as sacrosanct or holy: They canonized his many verbal foibles and made them gospel.
to sanction or approve authoritatively, especially ecclesiastically.
Archaic. to deify.
RELATED CONTENT
Moot Point vs. Mute PointYou may have heard coworkers or acquaintances refer to an inconsequential or irrelevant point as a moot point, or maybe you’ve heard mute point instead. Fans of the TV show Friends may have heard a third variation: moo point (because, according to Joey, a cow’s opinion doesn’t matter). But which expression is correct, and what exactly does it mean? The correct phrase is moot point. …
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
- canonicate,
- canonicity,
- canonicus,
- canonist,
- canonization,
- canonry,
- canons regular,
- canonsburg,
- canonship,
- canoodle
Also especially British, can·on·ise.
Origin of canonize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for canonize
canonize
canonise
/ (ˈkænəˌnaɪz) /
verb (tr)
RC Church to declare (a person) to be a saint and thus admit to the canon of saints
to regard as holy or as a saint
to sanction by canon law; pronounce valid
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
canonize
late 14c., "to place in the canon or calendar of saints," from Old French cannonisier and directly from Medieval Latin canonizare, from Late Latin canon "church rule" (see canon (n.1)). Related: Canonized; cannonizing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper