canon

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A generally accepted principle; a rule.
2. (countable, uncountable) A generally accepted principle; a rule.
3. (countable, uncountable) A group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field.
4. (countable, uncountable) The works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic.
5. (countable, uncountable) A eucharistic prayer, particularly the Roman Canon.
6. (countable, uncountable) A religious law or body of law decreed by the church.
7. (countable, uncountable) A catalogue of saints acknowledged and canonized in the Roman Catholic Church.
8. (countable, uncountable) In monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order.
9. (countable, uncountable) A piece of music in which the same melody is played by different voices, but beginning at different times; a round.
10. (Roman, countable, uncountable) A rent or stipend payable at some regular time, generally annual, e.g., canon frumentarius
11. (slang, uncountable) Those sources, especially including literary works, which are considered part of the main continuity regarding a given fictional universe; (metonymic) these sources' content.
12. (alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of cannon (“rolled and filleted loin of meat”).
13. (dated, uncountable) A large size of type formerly used for printing the church canons, standardized as 48-point.
14. (countable, uncountable) The part of a bell by which it is suspended; the ear or shank of a bell.

Adj

Clipping of canonical.

Opposite of

non-canon

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkæn.ən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: canoun

Inherited from Old English: canon

Cognate with Hebrew: קָנֶה

Cognate with Arabic: قَنَاة

Cognate with Old English: canonic

In summary

From Middle English canoun, from Old French canon and Old English canon, both from Latin canōn, from Ancient Greek κανών (kanṓn, “measuring rod, standard”), akin to κάννα (kánna, “reed”), from Semitic (compare Hebrew קָנֶה (qane, “reed”) and Arabic قَنَاة (qanāh, “reed”)). Doublet of qanun. See also cane, cannon, canyon, canal.

Synonyms

rule

law

canyon

norm

regulation

round

code

standard

precept

catch

manage

mortgage

order

pawn

principle

procedure

provost

scriptures

specification

specs

square

statute

test

troll

🧌

teaching guide

established principle

canonical law

performance specification

barrel

big gun

canonical

criterion

doctrine

dogma

ear

👂

edict

formula