canon

Canon, a rule, and canon, a clergyman, both go back to Greek kanṓn, rule, the second through the Latin adjective canonicus, following a rule.^[1][2][3]

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkæn.ən/^[4]

canon¹ rule

Etymology

It is inherited from Old English canon (“rule, decree of the Church”), from Late Latin canon (“Church law”),^[1][2][3] in classical Latin a measuring line, rule, reinforced in Middle English by Old French canon,^[2][5][3] from Greek κανών (kanṓn, “straight rod, rule, standard”),^[1][2] probably from kánna, reed (see cane),^[2][1] though Beekes favours a Pre-Greek origin.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

A rule or decree of the Church: about 890, in Alfred.^[6][2]

Semantic evolution

Canon law is from about 1340.^[6] The central part of the Mass is from the 13th century.^[3] The books of the Bible accepted as authentic are from 1382 (about 1400 in Etymonline),^[6][1] later extended to secular works of admitted authority,^[1] and a general rule or principle is from the late 14th century.^[1] A standard of judging is from 1601.^[2][6] The musical sense is 16th-century.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 890 – a Church decree.^[6]
• c. 1340 – canon law.^[6]
• 1382 – the books of the Bible.^[6]
• 16th century – in music.^[3]
• 1601 – a standard of judgment.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A law or code of laws of a church.
2. An established principle or standard of judgment.
3. The books of the Bible accepted as Holy Scripture.
4. The works of a writer accepted as genuine.
5. (music) A composition in which a melody is taken up by successive voices.
6. (Roman Catholic Church) The prayer in the Mass at which the Host is consecrated, or the list of canonized saints.

Word family

• canonical
• canonize
• canon law

canon² clergyman

Etymology

It is Middle English canun, chanoun, borrowed from Anglo-Norman canun, from Old North French canonie (modern chanoine),^[1][2][3] from Late Latin canonicus (“clergyman living under a rule”), a noun use of the Latin adjective canonicus, according to rule,^[1][2][7] from Greek κανονικός (kanonikós), from kanṓn, rule.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

A clergyman belonging to a cathedral or collegiate church: probably before 1200, in Layamon;^[2] about 1200 in Etymonline, and as a surname in the late 12th century.^[1]

Semantic evolution

Hoad explains the name by the vita canonica, a religious life based on rule.^[3] NODE gives the earliest sense as a canon regular, one living under a rule.^[5]

Timeline

• late 12th century – as a surname.^[1]
• before 1200 – a clergyman.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A member of the chapter of priests of a cathedral.
2. A member of certain religious communities living under a common rule.

Word family

• canoness

Related words

• cane
• canyon

Usage notes

Cañon is a variant spelling of canyon.^[8][9]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
8. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
9. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins