Etymologically
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canonicus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kaˈnɔ.nɪ.kʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kaˈnɔː.ni.kus][1]

Forms

canonicus (feminine canonica, neuter canonicum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek κανονικός (kanonikós, “regular, according to rule”), from κανών (kanṓn, “rule”).[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short and Köbler cite Vitruvius, of the theory of harmony.[4][3] Köbler dates Vitruvius c. 84–c. 25 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

In Vitruvius canonica ratiō was the theory of harmony, based on the divisions of the monochord.[2][5] As a noun it was in Pliny the Elder someone who draws up mathematical or astronomical tables.[2]

In Church Latin it meant canonical: of a book of the Bible, having the force of church law, valid in canon law.[6] Of a cleric it meant enrolled on the list of the clergy, and as a noun a canon, a cleric living under a rule.[6][5][7] English canon in this sense (about 1200) comes from it through Anglo-French, and English canonical (early 15th century) from Medieval Latin canonicālis.[7] It survives as French chanoine and Portuguese cônego.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of harmony.[4][3]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a maker of tables.[2][3]
  • c. 1200 – English canon, a cleric, is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Based on the divisions of the monochord; according to rule.[2][4]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Canonical: of the Bible; of church law.[6][8]

Noun

  1. A maker of mathematical or astronomical tables.[2]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) A canon, a cleric living under a rule.[5][9]

Word family

  • canonicarius
  • canonicē

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson