canon English · revision 7627

+ Canon, a rule, and canon, a clergyman, both go back to Greek kanṓn, rule, the second through the Latin adjective canonicus, following a rule.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkæn.ən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|rule}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 890|origins=grc κανών}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|ang|canon|t=rule, decree of the Church]], from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|canon|t=Church law]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) in classical Latin a measuring line, rule, reinforced in Middle English by Old French [[m|fro|canon]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[m|grc|κανών|tr=kanṓn|t=straight rod, rule, standard]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) probably from kánna, reed (see [[cane]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) though Beekes favours a Pre-Greek origin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A rule or decree of the Church: about 890, in Alfred.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Canon law'' is from about 1340.^(OED 1989) The central part of the Mass is from the 13th century.^(Hoad 1986) The books of the Bible accepted as authentic are from 1382 (about 1400 in Etymonline),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) later extended to secular works of admitted authority,^(Etymonline) and a general rule or principle is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) A standard of judging is from 1601.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The musical sense is 16th-century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 890 – a Church decree.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1340 – canon law.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – the books of the Bible.^(OED 1989)

+ * 16th century – in music.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1601 – a standard of judgment.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A law or code of laws of a [[church]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An established principle or standard of judgment.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The books of the [[Bible]] accepted as Holy Scripture.^(AHD)

+ # The works of a writer accepted as genuine.^(AHD)

+ # ''(music)'' A composition in which a melody is taken up by successive voices.^(Hoad 1986)

+ # ''(Roman Catholic Church)'' The prayer in the [[Mass]] at which the [[Host]] is consecrated, or the list of canonized saints.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[canonical]]

+ * [[canonize]]

+ * [[canon law]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|clergyman}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1200|origins=la canonicus}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English canun, chanoun, [[bor|xno|canun]], from Old North French canonie (modern chanoine),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Late Latin [[m|la-lat|canonicus|t=clergyman living under a rule]], a noun use of the Latin adjective canonicus, according to rule,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Greek [[m|grc|κανονικός|tr=kanonikós]], from kanṓn, rule.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A clergyman belonging to a cathedral or collegiate church: probably before 1200, in Layamon;^(Barnhart 1988) about 1200 in Etymonline, and as a surname in the late 12th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad explains the name by the vita canonica, a religious life based on rule.^(Hoad 1986) NODE gives the earliest sense as a canon regular, one living under a rule.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 12th century – as a surname.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1200 – a clergyman.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A member of the [[chapter]] of priests of a [[cathedral]].^(AHD)

+ # A member of certain religious communities living under a common rule.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[canoness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cane]]

+ * [[canyon]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Cañon is a variant spelling of [[canyon]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}