( BrE also can·on·ise ) / ˈkænənaɪz; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] ( of the Pope ) to state officially that sb is now a saint
—compare beatify
► can·on·iza·tion , can·on·isa·tion / ˌkænənaɪˈzeɪʃn; NAmE -nəˈz-/ noun [ C , U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from late Latin canonizare admit as authoritative (in medieval Latin admit to the list of recognized saints), from Latin canon , from Greek kanōn rule.