canon

can·on ¹  (knn)

n.

1. An ecclesiastical law or code of laws established by a church council.

2. A secular law, rule, or code of law.

3.

a. An established principle: the canons of polite society.

b. A basis for judgment; a standard or criterion.

4. The books of the Bible officially accepted as Holy Scripture.

5.

a. A group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field: "the durable canon of American short fiction" William Styron.

b. The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic: the entire Shakespeare canon.

6. Canon The part of the Mass beginning after the Preface and Sanctus and ending just before the Lord's Prayer.

7. The calendar of saints accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.

8. Music A composition or passage in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices at fixed intervals of pitch and time.

---

[Middle English canoun, from Old English canon and from Old French, both from Latin cann, rule, from Greek kann, measuring rod, rule.]

---

can·on ²  (knn)

n.

1. A member of a chapter of priests serving in a cathedral or collegiate church.

2. A member of certain religious communities living under a common rule and bound by vows.

---

[Middle English canoun, from Norman French canun, from Late Latin cannicus, one living under a rule, from Latin cann, rule; see canon¹.]

---

canon ¹

Noun

a priest serving in a cathedral [Late Latin canonicus person living under a rule]

---

canon ²

Noun

1. Christianity a Church decree regulating morals or religious practices

2. a general rule or standard: the Marx-Engels canon

3. a list of the works of an author that are accepted as authentic: the Yeats canon

4. a piece of music in which a melody in one part is taken up in one or more other parts successively [Greek kanōn rule]

---

Canon a collection of rules or laws; a set of mathematical tables; a collection or list of books of the Bible accepted as genuine and inspired; any set of sacred books; a piece of music with different parts taking up the same subject successively in strict imitation. See also code.

Examples: canon of laws; of mathematical tables; of monastic rules; of rules; of saints.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	canon - a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy; "the neoclassical canon"; "canons of polite society" prescript, rule - prescribed guide for conduct or action
	2.	canon - a priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter prebendary - a canon who receives a prebend for serving the church priest - a clergyman in Christian churches who has the authority to perform or administer various religious rites; one of the Holy Orders
	3.	canon - a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall canyon canyonside - the steeply sloping side of a canyon North America - a continent (the third largest) in the western hemisphere connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama ravine - a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
	4.	canon - a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts musical composition, opus, piece of music, composition, piece - a musical work that has been created; "the composition is written in four movements" enigma canon, enigmatic canon, enigmatical canon, riddle canon - a canon in which the entrances of successive parts were indicated by cryptic symbols and devices (popular in the 15th and 16th centuries)
	5.	canon - a complete list of saints that have been recognized by the Roman Catholic Church list, listing - a database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics)
	6.	canon - a collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired sacred scripture, scripture - any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group

---

canon

noun 1. rule, standard, principle, regulation, formula, criterion, dictate, statute, yardstick, precept

noun 2. list, index, catalogue, syllabus, roll

Translations

canon [ˈkænən] n (clergyman) → canónigo (= standard); canon m

---

canon [ˈkænən] n (= clergyman) → chanoine m (= standard); canon m

---

canon [ˈkænən] n → Kanon m;

(clergyman) → Kanoniker m, Kanonikus m

---

canon [ˈkænən] n (clergyman) → canonico (= standard); canone m