I. ˈka-nən noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Latin, ruler, rule, model, standard, from Greek kanōn
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council
b. : a provision of canon law
2.
[Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin, from Latin, model]
: the most solemn and unvarying part of the Mass including the consecration of the bread and wine
3.
[Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin, standard]
a. : an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture
b. : the authentic works of a writer
c. : a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works
the canon of great literature
4.
a. : an accepted principle or rule
b. : a criterion or standard of judgment
c. : a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms
5.
[Late Greek kanōn, from Greek, model]
: a contrapuntal musical composition in which each successively entering voice presents the initial theme usually transformed in a strictly consistent way
Synonyms: see law
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English canoun, from Anglo-French * canoun, chanoun, from Late Latin canonicus one living under a rule, from Latin, according to rule, from Greek kanonikos, from kanōn
Date: 13th century
1. : a clergyman belonging to the chapter or the staff of a cathedral or collegiate church
2. : canon regular