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beatify

 - 3 dictionary results

be⋅at⋅i⋅fy

[bee-at-uh-fahy]
–verb (used with object), -fied, -fy⋅ing.
1. to make blissfully happy.
2. Roman Catholic Church. to declare (a deceased person) to be among the blessed and thus entitled to specific religious honor.

Origin:
1525–35; < MF beatifier < LL beātificāre. See beatific
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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be·at·i·fy   (bē-āt'ə-fī')   
tr.v.   be·at·i·fied, be·at·i·fy·ing, be·at·i·fies
  1. To make blessedly happy.

  2. Roman Catholic Church To proclaim (a deceased person) to be one of the blessed and thus worthy of public religious veneration in a particular region or religious congregation.

  3. To exalt above all others.


[French beatifier, from Late Latin beātificāre : Latin beātus, happy; see beatific + Latin -ficāre, -fy.]
be·at'i·fi·ca'tion (-fĭ-kā'shən) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

beatify 
1535, "to make very happy," from L. beatificare "make happy, make blessed," from L. beatus "supremely happy, blessed" + ficus "making, producing." The Roman Catholic Church sense of "to pronounce as being in heavenly bliss" (1629) is the first step toward canonization.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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