WordGarden.iobeatify
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /biːˈætɪfˌaɪ/
US
- /biˈætəˌfaɪ/
Meanings
Verb
to formally declare a deceased person blessed in the Roman Catholic Church
to treat someone with saint-like admiration or excessive praise
Beyond the definition
To beatify someone isn't about making them physically stronger—it’s about recognizing holiness. In the Catholic tradition, beatify means making a formal declaration that a deceased person is blessed, which is a major step on the path to sainthood. In practical terms, it means saying, "This person lived an exceptionally virtuous life and deserves public veneration and prayers."
Most often used in religious context, beatify can also be used more generally to mean making someone or something seem beautiful, radiant, or worthy of praise. A sunset might beatify the landscape, making everything look almost magical. Think of it as adding a halo around someone or something.
The word "beatify" has deep roots in Catholic tradition. It refers to the formal process by which a deceased person is declared blessed—recognized as living a holy life and worthy of veneration by believers. Beatification is a crucial step before sainthood, not the final stage but a formal recognition of exceptional virtue and devotion. For example, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 2003.
However, "beatify" isn't limited to religious contexts. It can also be used figuratively to mean making something appear more beautiful, radiant, or glorious than it actually is. A soft light might beatify a person's face, highlighting their features and making them seem almost angelic. Or, a writer might beatify a historical figure in a biography, focusing on their positive qualities and downplaying any flaws.
The origin of the word comes from the Latin beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy." So, when you beatify something—whether it's a person, a place, or an idea—you are essentially giving it a sense of holiness, beauty, or profound goodness. It suggests elevating something beyond the ordinary and seeing it in a particularly favorable light.
Examples
- 1
Church recognition
The Church beatified the missionary twenty years after her death.
- 2
Religious ceremony
He was beatified in a ceremony attended by thousands of pilgrims.
- 3
Figurative praise
The documentary practically beatified the former president and ignored his mistakes.
See also
Similar
- declare blessed
- proclaim blessed
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- be beatified by the pope
- beatify a martyr
- cause for beatification
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- beatifyverb
Forms
- beatifiedpast tenseverb
- beatifiesverb
- beatifying-ing formverb