v. Also -ise. [ad. med.L. canonizā-re (also in 15th c. Fr. canonizer).]
1. trans. To place in the canon or calendar of the saints, according to the rules and with the ceremonies observed by the Church.
c. 1380. Wyclif, De Eccles., Sel. Wks. III. 344. If þe pope canonise þis man þanne he must nedis be seint in hevene.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (1858), 253. This same ȝere was Thomas of Lancastir canonized.
1516. Pynson, Life St. Birgitte, in Myrr. Our Ladye (1873), Introd. 58. This blessyd woman seynt Birgette was canonyzed by pope bonyface.
1598. Barkcley, Felic. Man (1631), 257. They assured him that hee should bee canonized for a Saint.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), II. 195. He [a Fanatic] canonizes himself a Saint in his own Life-time.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, vii. 191. A multitude who have not been canonised on earth, though they are saints in heaven.
† 2. To install in any ecclesiastical dignity or office; to consecrate. Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 254. Thus was he pope canonised with great honour and intronised.
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 57. Wan any auerous or couctous is canonizid in þe kirk, or maad cheef.
† 3. To deify, apotheosize. Obs. or arch.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 20. Of them which amonge the gentiles were canonized into ye numbre of the goddes.
1564. Haward, Eutropius, I. 2. When hee [Romulus] coulde not be founde, his people supposing that he was raught vp to the skies, canonised him.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 210. Circe our famous witch … was canonized a goddesse.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, I. II. viii. (1672), 106. The Persons were the souls of some Heroes deceased, and canonised.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., II. Adventurers who were afterwards … canonized as a sign in the heavens … called Argonauts.
4. fig. To treat as a saint or glorified person.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 683/1. But women are as it were canonised here: GOD putteth them into his register, and setteth them in an honourable degree.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., I. 118. Faustus, these books, thy wit, and our experience, Shall make all nations to canonize us.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II. 282. I am not ready to canonize all women because I love one.
5. To make canonical; to admit into the Canon of Scripture, or (transf.) of authoritative writings.
1382. [see CANONIZED].
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., 38 b. Canonizing such a multifarious Genealogie of Comments.
1595. Polimanteia (1881), 36. To canonize your owne writers.
1645. Ussher, Body Div., 5. Hee citeth and cannonizeth the Testimony of the Poets, to shew that God is not farre from every one of us.
1657. J. Cosin, Canon Script., ii. 14. They canonized the Books of the Maccabees.
1872. O. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, 86. Apocryphal books … were not canonized.
6. To sanction by the authority of the church; to give authoritative sanction or approval to.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 28. Of the law canonized The pope hath bode to the men, that [etc.].
c. 1400. Apol. Loll., 46. Þer wordis are canonized, & approuid of holi kirk.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., I. iii. (1636), 89. These … doctrines are Canonized in their late meeting at Trent.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, II. I. 132. The Popes are sure to have the Cardinals Canonize their errours.
1869. Lecky, Europ. Mor., I. i. 39. We should still be compelled to canonise a crowd of acts.
† 7. (See quot.)
1578. Cooper, Thesaurus, Canonize, to canonice: to examine by rule.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Canonize, to examine by rule, to Register, to put in the rank and number.
