a. (and sb.). [f. med.L. canonicāl-is, f. canonic-us: see prec. and -AL.]
1. Prescribed by, in conformity with, or having reference to ecclesiastical edict or canon law.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 303. Rochester hath … a lawful, and canonicall Cathedral See.
1586. Will, in Spenser’s Wks. (Grosart), I. Introd. 17. For … my wyfe for and in the name of her canonicall parte and porcion.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., I. (1793), 553. These canonical disabilities being entirely the province of the ecclesiastical courts.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. viii. 298. A struggle … fought, not with bow and spear, but with the weapons of legal and canonical disputation.
b. Canonical hours: (a.) stated times of the day appointed by the canons for prayer and devotion; (b.) the hours (now from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) within which marriage can be legally performed in a parish church in England; (c.) transf.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 218/2. And euery day at euery hour canonycal she was lift up in thayer of thangellis.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 164. All suche meditacyons perteyneth to the houres canonicall.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, Ded. 7. The canonical voice and watchfulness of a cock.
a. 1667. Cowley, Friendship in Abs. Each Day think on me, and each Day I shall, For thee make Hours Canonical.
1859. Hook, Ch. Dict., 144/2. In the Church of Rome, the canonical hours begin with vespers.
1665. Pepys, Diary (1879), III. 207. We, fearing the canonicall hour would be past before we got thither, did with a great deal unwillingness send away the license and wedding ring.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, III. 270. Let us be wed, At Hours Canonical.
1847. Barham, Ingol. Leg. (1877), 344. It’s long past the canonical hour.
c. Canonical dress, etc.; the articles of dress worn by clergy according to canon.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 27 Sept. I … to speak for a cloak and cassock for my brother … and I will have him in a canonical dress.
1685. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), I. 343. Titus Oates … to be divested of his canonical habit for ever.
1862. Smiles, Engineers, III. 391. Two … old men, whose canonical hats indicated their quality as village pastors.
d. Canonical obedience: the obedience to be rendered by inferior clergy to the bishop or other ecclesiastical superior, according to the canons.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. iv. I. ii. (1651), 650. A false perswasion of merit, of canonical or blind obedience.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 87. His new engagements of canonical obedience to the pope.
1869. Hook, Lives Abps., II. ii. 150. At his consecration he made a profession of canonical obedience to the Archbishop.
2. Of or belonging to the canon of Scripture. (Also used of other sacred books.)
a. 1568. Coverdale, Carrying Christ’s Cross, viii. Wks. II. 258. The canonical books of the old and New Testament.
1632. Massinger & Field, Fatal Dowry, III. i. If this new preacher … Could prove his doctrine for canonical.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 167. Though it be not Canonicall, he was a wise man that said [etc.].
1790. Paley, Horæ Paul., I. 6. Sentences from the canonical epistles.
1857. Max Müller, Chips (1880), I. x. 267. The chief canonical books of the Buddhist faith.
1862. Trench, Miracles, Introd. 42.
3. Canonical Epistles, more particularly, the seven catholic epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude; also applied to certain epistles of St. Basil, etc. Also quasi-sb., a canonical (obs.) = CANON1 5.
(Ἐπιστολή κανονικὴ had various senses in ecclesiastical writers. In reference to the Catholic Epistles the meaning is disputed; in reference to those of St. Basil, it means ‘having the authority of a canon.’)
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 292. He is greater, that is in vs (sayth S. John in his Canonicall) than is he that is in the world.
1755. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Canonical … or general epistles.
[a. 1225. see CANONIAL].
4. gen. Of the nature of a canon or rule; of admitted authority, excellence or supremacy; authoritative; orthodox, accepted; standard.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 67. Suche as all the worlde hathe confirmed and agreed upon, that it is autentique and canonical.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 81. Wisedome vnder a ragged coate [is] seldome canonicall.
1651. Hobbes, Govt. & Soc., xvii. § 18. 315. There must bee some Canonicall Interpreter.
1796. Monthly Rev., XIX. 545. He … remained the canonical geographer of the antients. Ibid. (1811), LXV. 133. Before Polycletus had ascertained the canonical proportions of a beautiful human frame.
1868. Sat. Rev., 15 Aug., 229/1. Challenging all those who may be disinclined to accept his criticism as canonical.
5. Math. Furnishing, or according to, a general rule or formula (see CANON1 3).
1738. Logan, in Rigaud, Corr. Sci. Men (1841), I. 331. A true canonical equation or power.
1851. J. J. Sylvester (title), On a remarkable discovery in the Theory of Canonical forms of Hyperdeterminants.
1876. Salmon, Higher Alg., xv. Art. 164. The simplest form to which a quantic can without loss of generality be reduced is called the canonical form of the quantic.
6. Mus. According to the rules of canon, in canon form.
1609. Douland, Ornith. Microl., 51. Virgular Syncopation is much vsed, Numerall seldome, Canonicall most seldome.
1869. Ouseley, Counterp., xxiii. § 15. Some fragmentary imitation or canonical episode.
7. Of or belonging to an ecclesiastical chapter, or to one of its members (see CANON2).
1579. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxx. § 11. No other benefices but on their canonical portions. Ibid. (1600), VIII. vii. § 3. The very act of canonical election.
1634. Abp. Laud’s Visit. Exeter, in 4th Rep. Commiss. Hist. MSS., 138/2. A canonicall house, due to a canon residentiary.
1662. J. Bargrave, Pope Alex. VII. (1867), 116. At my Canonical house, at the metropolitical church of Christ, Canterbury.
1881. Freeman, Subj. Lands Venice, 108. (Parenzo) Among the canonical buildings on the south side of the church.
B. sb. pl. [cf. academicals.] Canonical robes.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., ix. I did not at all wonder to find a cheat in canonicals. Ibid. (1751), Per. Pic. (1779), IV. xcvi. 171. He was accosted by a person in canonicals.
1755. Connoisseur, No. 65. Out of his canonicals, his constant dress is what they call parson’s blue.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 327. An ecclesiastic in full canonicals.
