The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word CANONISE
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
A
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More clues leading to the result CANONISE
- Make a saint transgress revoltingly in boat
- Unknown writer is entering church to add to sacred list
- Make saint transgress, coming about in boat
- Saint Charlie before long is earl
- A number err, backsliding in church, put on a holy pedestal?
- Bless an icon with heads of six elephants mashed together
- Church must accept shortly one’s to make saint
- Soon is in church to turn into a saint
- Unknown is in church to sanctify
- Saint pulled up evil in boat
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Saint" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case saint = canonise.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CANONISE mean?
CANONISE verb- To declare (a deceased person) as a saint, and enter them into the canon of saints.
- To regard as a saint; to glorify, to exalt to the highest honour.
- To formally declare (a piece of religious writing) to be part of the biblical canon.
- (by extension) To regard (an artistic or written work) as one of a group of works representative of a particular field.
- Especially of a church: to give official approval to; to authorize, to sanction.