To make universal or general in application; to convert or conform to Catholicism; to broaden in scope or appeal.
From 'Catholic' (Greek 'katholikos' meaning universal) plus '-ize' (to make or cause to become). Used since the 17th century with both religious and secular meanings.
The word 'catholic' originally just meant 'universal'—the Catholic Church claimed this term because it said it was a universal church for all Christians, which is why religious and universal meanings got tangled together.
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