canon

plural canons

1. countableuncountableA generally accepted principle; a rule.

   The trial must proceed according to the canons of law.

   1 more example

   Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   1. countableuncountableA formally codified set of criteria deemed mandatory for a particular artistic style of figurative art.

      the Canon of Polykleitos

      1 more example

      Despite the many advances made by modern scholars towards a clearer comprehension of the theoretical basis of the Canon of Polykleitos, the results of these studies show an absence of any general agreement upon the practical application of that canon in works of art.

      1975, Richard Tobin, “The Canon of Polykleitos”, in American Journal of Archaeology, volume 79, number 4, →DOI, →JSTOR, retrieved 02 Oct 2020, pages 307–321

2. countableuncountableA group of literary works that are generally accepted as representing a field.

   the durable canon of American short fiction

   2015, William Styron, “Irwin Shaw”, in My Generation: Collected Nonfiction, page 456

   1 more example

   Russo had been working as a salesman, selling Great Books of the Western World, hawking the canon to the rubes.

   1992 February 2, Mitzel, “Clay Shaw, The Quean Network & That Kennedy Killing”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 28, page 12

3. countableuncountableThe works of a writer that have been accepted as authentic.

   the entire Shakespearean canon

4. countableuncountableA eucharistic prayer, particularly the Roman Canon.
5. countableuncountableA religious law or body of law decreed by the church.

   We must proceed according to canon law.

6. countableuncountableA catalogue of saints acknowledged and canonized in the Roman Catholic Church.
7. countableuncountableIn monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order.
8. countableuncountableA piece of music in which the same melody is played by different voices, but beginning at different times; a round.

   Pachelbel’s Canon has become very popular.

9. RomancountableuncountablelawA rent or stipend payable at some regular time, generally annual, e.g., canon frumentarius

   The lessees of public lands had to pay a perpetual rent or "canon" at some periodical time.

   1919 January 28, Charles P. Sherman, “A Brief History of Imperial Roman Canon Law”, in California Law Review, volume 7, number 2, Berkeley, California: University of California, pages 96–97

10. slanguncountablelifestyleThe officially recognized continuity, events, characters, relationships, etc. of a work of fiction.

    A spin-off book series revealed the aliens to be originally from Earth, but it's not canon.

    1 more example

    Meanwhile, having learned the whereabouts of the Death Star's plans, the rebels send their best platypus agent to obtain them, in hopes of finding a weakness. And none of this is canon, so just relax.

    2014, Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars

11. alternativecountableuncountablecookingAlternative form of cannon (“rolled and filleted loin of meat”).

    a canon of beef or lamb

12. dateduncountablemediaA large size of type formerly used for printing the church canons, standardized as 48-point.

    Synonyms: French canon

13. countableuncountableThe part of a bell by which it is suspended; the ear or shank of a bell.

plural canons

1. A type of clergymember serving a cathedral or collegiate church.

   The records show that in the early 960s the cathedral at Winchester was administered by a group of canons, every one of whom was married.

   1999, Robert Lacey, Danny Danziger, The Year 1000: What life was like at the turn of The First Millennium, London: Abacus, published 2000, page 169

2. A canon regular, a member of any of several Roman Catholic religious orders.

comparative more canon · superlative most canon

1. abbreviationclippingslanglifestyleClipping of canonical.

   The franchise's book spinoff is usually not considered canon.

   Antonyms: non-canon

plural canons

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of qanun.

plural canons

1. alternativeobsoletenow a misspellingAlternative spelling of cannon (“weapon”).
2. alternativeAlternative spelling of cannon (“a carom in billiards”).

plural canons

1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of canyon.

   Clarks Canon, […] very sandy, hilly, deep canons (or ravines), river valleys, and no trees or brush […]

   1995, Michael A. Bogan, A Biological Survey of Fort Niobrara and Valentine National ..., page 13, quoting writings by a Bailey in 1890

   1 more example

   [page 247:] the most wonderful depressions, gorges, canons, or valleys ever discovered. [page 249:] Some two miles on we come to where the three canons begin. [page 329:] the Canons of the Colorado River. This gave Moran his subject for a second painting, which he called the "Grand Chasm of the Colorado" [...]

   1887, Frank McAlpine, Mile-stones of History, Literature, Travel, Mythology, ...

plural Canons

1. A surname.
2. with definite articleCatholicismThe Canon of the Mass.

plural Canons

1. ChristianityAlternative letter-case form of canon: a member of a chapter.
2. ChristianityTitle for a canon.

   Canon Smith is our new parish priest.