̈ɪˈkænən n. 1 a a
general law,
rule,
principle, or
criterion. b a
church decree or law. 2 (fem. canoness) a a
member of a
cathedral chapter. b a member of
certain RC orders. 3 a a
collection or list of
sacred books etc. accepted as
genuine. b
the recognized genuine works of a
particular author; a list of
these. 4 the
part of the
Roman Catholic Mass containing the words of consecration. 5 Mus. a
piece with different parts
taking up the
same theme successively,
either at the same or at a different pitch. øcanon law
ecclesiastical law. canon
regular (or regular canon) see REGULAR adj. 9b. [OE f. L f. Gk kanon, in ME
also f. AF & OF canun,
-on; in
sense 2 ME f. OF canonie f. eccl.L canonicus:
cf. CANONICAL]