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canon

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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
  • 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