To make someone a champion or to cause someone to achieve champion status or qualities.
From 'champion' + the suffix '-ize' (meaning to make or become). The '-ize' suffix comes from Greek '-izein' and became productive in English for creating verbs from nouns and adjectives.
Though 'championize' is rare in modern English, it represents a fascinating pattern: English-speakers have long tried to create verbs by adding '-ize' to nearly any noun, from 'customize' to 'weaponize,' showing how productive this suffix is.
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