Definition of canonize
1
: to declare (a deceased person) an officially recognized saint
2
: to make canonical
3
: to sanction by ecclesiastical authority
4
: to attribute authoritative sanction or approval to
5
: to treat as illustrious, preeminent, or sacred
his mother had canonized all his timidities as common sense— Scott Fitzgerald
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for canonize
The first known use of canonize was in the 14th century
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