beatify

[bee-at-uh-fahy] /biˈæt əˌfaɪ/
verb (used with object), beatified, beatifying.
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; < Middle French beatifier < Late Latin beātificāre. See beatific
Can be confused
beatify, beautify.
British Dictionary definitions for beatified

beatify

/bɪˈætɪˌfaɪ/
verb -fies, -fying, -fied
1.
(transitive) (RC Church) (of the pope) to declare formally that (a deceased person) showed a heroic degree of holiness in his or her life and therefore is worthy of public veneration: the first step towards canonization
2.
(transitive) to make extremely happy
Derived Forms
beatification (bɪˌætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən) noun
Word Origin
C16: from Old French beatifier, from Late Latin beātificāre to make blessed; see beatific
Word Origin and History for beatified

beatify

v.

1530s, "to make very happy," from Middle French béatifer, from Late Latin beatificare "make happy, make blessed," from Latin beatus "supremely happy, blessed" (past participle of beare "to make happy, to bless") + -ficare, from stem of facere "to make, do" (see factitious). The Roman Catholic Church sense of "to pronounce as being in heavenly bliss" (1620s) is the first step toward canonization. Related: Beatified; beatifying.