Definition

1. Verb:
   • To officially declare (a deceased person) to be a saint: This is the primary religious meaning, involving a formal process by the Roman Catholic Church to recognize someone as a saint.
   • To treat or regard as supremely great, sacred, or worthy of reverence: This figurative meaning extends to treating a person, idea, or work with the highest possible respect, often to an idealized or uncritical degree.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Declare a saint):
  • The Vatican decided to canonise the nun for her lifelong charitable work and miracles.
  • Many martyrs were canonised centuries after their deaths.
• Verb (Treat as sacred):
  • Some fans tend to canonise the author's early novels, refusing to acknowledge any flaws.
  • He canonises his grandfather, remembering only his virtues and none of his faults.

Advanced Usage

• "to be canonised": to undergo the process of being declared a saint.
  • She is on the path to being canonised; the Church is investigating her life and reported miracles.
• Concept of "canonisation": The noun form refers to the process or ceremony itself.
  • The canonisation ceremony was attended by thousands of pilgrims.

Variants and Related Words

• Canonisation (noun, chiefly British English): The act or ceremony of canonising.
  • The canonisation of the two popes was a historic event.
• Canonize (verb, American English spelling): The American English spelling of 'canonise'.
• Canon (noun): A related but distinct word referring to a general law, rule, or principle, or a collection of sacred texts or accepted works.

Synonyms

• Beatify: In a Catholic context, to declare someone 'blessed', a step before canonisation.
• Sanctify: To set apart as or declare holy; can be more general than the formal process of canonisation.
• Deify: To make a god of; to idolise. This is stronger and more figurative than 'canonise'.
• Idealise: To regard or represent as perfect or better than in reality. This is a close synonym for the figurative sense.

Related Phrases

• To be up for canonisation: To be a candidate for being declared a saint.
  • The local bishop put the venerable nun's case up for canonisation.
• To canonise a text: To include a text in an accepted list of authoritative works (e.g., the literary canon). This is a related but distinct usage from the primary verb form, stemming from the noun 'canon'.

Verb

1. declare (a dead person) to be a saint
   • After he was shown to have performed a miracle, the priest was canonized
2. treat as a sacred person
   • He canonizes women