Canonization

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The act of formally recognizing someone as a saint typically involves a detailed examination of their life, virtues, and reported miracles
2. This term signifies the official process by which a person is acknowledged as a saint, entailing a thorough assessment of their moral conduct and extraordinary deeds
3. The formal procedure in which a person is declared a saint following an extensive review of their virtuous life and miraculous acts

Etymology: The word "canonization" is built from "canonize" plus the suffix "-ation", which turns a verb into a noun for the act or process. The verb itself goes back to the Greek "kanōn", a rod or measuring stick, which came to mean a rule or standard. Early Christian writers borrowed that sense: a canon was a rule of faith or an authoritative list, and the Latin "canōnizāre" meant to enrol something in such a list. The verb entered English through Old French "canonisier" and Medieval Latin "canonizāre", and the noun followed the same route with the Old French "-ation" ending. The key idea is registration: to canonize someone was to place their name on the official list of saints, so the process of canonization is essentially the act of making that entry.

Synonyms: sanctification, beatification

Antonyms: decanonization