Canonical Meaning
/kəˈnɒn.ɪ.kəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPresent in a canon, religious or otherwise.
adjAccording to recognised or orthodox rules.
Sentence Examples
Let f be the canonical map.
There is no canonical version of Tom.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ text of the religious scripture was accepted by all scholars.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The book is considered a ____ work of modern American literature city.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English canonycal, from Medieval Latin canōnicālis. By surface analysis, canon + -ical.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In a word, they were made uſe of by the immediate ſucceſſors of the Apoſtles, and many of them read in the Public Aſſemblies of Chriſtians, as Canonical Scripture, without the leaſt mark of Diſtinction, in point of Autority[…]"
— 1732, George Reynolds, A diſſertation: or, Inquiry Concerning the Canonical Autority of the Goſpel according to Mathew; […] , 2nd edition, page 4:
"While bills are being brought into the House of Commons to regulate every thing, from the sweeps crying "sweep," to "emancipation, vote by ballot, and free trade," is there no county member whose "time and talents" are devoted to "domestic policy," who will bring in a bill "for the better regulation of the marriage ceremony," and put the canonical hours later in the day?"
— 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “(please specify the page)”, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, pages 158–159:
"It turns out that ordered pairs can be defined in set theory, e.g. as
(x,y)#58;#61;#92;#123;#92;#123;x,y#92;#125;,y#92;#125;.
Note that in no sense is such a definition canonical."
— 2011 July 2, Samson Abramsky with Nikos Tzevelekos, “Introduction to Categories and Categorical Logic”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 19:
"He, good man, could make but little of his solitary friend, and must many a time have been startled out of his canonicals by the strange, alien speeches which he heard."
— 1857, Various, The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 1, Issue 2, December, 1857:
"Mr Altham rose, as in duty bound, in honour to a priest, and a priest who, as he dimly discerned by his canonicals, was not altogether a common one."
— 1891, Emily Sarah Holt, The White Lady of Hazelwood:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ text of the religious scripture was accepted by all scholars.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The book is considered a ____ work of modern American literature city.