canonize

A verb used to indicate the act of officially declaring a deceased person a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, or more generally, to treat someone or something as being of great significance or authority.

• 🇩🇪Verb, das den Akt bezeichnet, einen Verstorbenen offiziell heiligzusprechen, insbesondere in der römisch-katholischen Kirche; allgemeiner auch, jemanden oder etwas als bedeutend oder autoritativ anzuerkennen.

1. Declare a saint B2 formal

   To officially declare a deceased person to be a saint in the Christian church.

   • The Pope will canonize the nun next year.
   • Many martyrs were canonized centuries after their death.
   • The process to canonize a person involves a thorough investigation.

   🇩🇪Heiligsprechen

   Synonyme: saint

   Antonyme: profaneunhallow

2. Treat as sacred C1 formal

   To regard someone or something with great respect and reverence, as if they were sacred.

   • Fans often canonize their favorite celebrities.
   • The author was canonized by literary critics after his death.
   • We should not canonize historical figures without considering their flaws.

   🇩🇪Heiligsprechen

   Synonyme: consecrateenshrinehallowreveresanctifyvenerate

   Antonyme: desecrateprofanevilify

• canonized past participle
• canonized past simple
• canonizing present participle
• canonizes third person singular