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canonicalis

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word canonicalis

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
899 annals More words from the 9th century
Ultimate origin
Latin canonicus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin canonicus
Latin canonicālis
English canonical

Forms

canonicālis (neuter canonicāle); third-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin canonicus (“canonical; a canon”) + -ālis.[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source for it is a set of annals from 899.[1]

Semantic evolution

It was used of the canons of cathedral and collegiate churches and of their way of life: the canonical habit, a canon's prebend, the rule of canons, including the Augustinian canons regular.[3][4][5] It also meant what accords with canon law,[4][3][5] and in canon law it describes a just and reasonable cause for granting a dispensation.[6] The word was used across medieval Europe, in Hungarian and Polish charters as well.[7][8] English canonical was borrowed from it in the early 15th century.[2]

Timeline

  • 899 – It appears in a set of annals.[1]
  • 1068 – A royal charter for the church of St Martin in London mentions the canonical rule.[5]
  • 1324 – A Hungarian charter promises a canon the next vacant canonical prebend.[7]
  • early 15th century – English borrows it as canonical.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Of a canon or of canons; living by the rule of canons.[4][3][5][7]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Canonical, in keeping with canon law.[4][3][5][6]
  3. (canon law) Of a cause: just and reasonable enough for a dispensation to be granted.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b c Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
  8. ^ Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
Cite this entry

“Canonicalis.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/canonicalis. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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