a. [UN-1 7.]
1. Not in accordance with ecclesiastical canons.
1632. Star Chamb. Cases (Camden), 172. He sought for this place in an uncanonicall order.
1676. Marvell, Gen. Councils, Wks. (Grosart), IV. 104. And God forbid too that any measure of wealth should render a clergyman uncanonical.
1693. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 17. Yesterday lord bishop of Llandaff exhibited articles … against Dr. Jones … for uncanonicall practices and misdemeanours committed by him.
1709. Bingham, Orig. Eccl., II. 172. Among his other Irregularities he [sc. Novatian] was ordained at an uncanonical Hour.
1760. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, IV. xxvi. A single word and no more [was] uttered …—a word I am ashamed to write—yet must be written—must be read—illegal—uncanonical.
1845. Ld. Campbell, Chancellors, ix. (1857), I. 130. Uncanonical and forced elections … were made to vacant ecclesiastical dignities.
1872. Freeman, Hist. Ess. (ed. 2), Pref. The marriage of his widow was uncanonical.
b. Of dress, pastimes, etc.: Unclerical; unbecoming to ‘the cloth.’
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 676. Wearing long hair, and a dress in any respect uncanonical.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, VII. vi. ¶ 1. In the archbishop’s palace … all such profane shews were condemned as uncanonical.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xvii. Are you not afraid he may pay you a visit during some of your uncanonical pastimes? Ibid. (1829), Anne of G., xv. Begirt, not with a suitable sash such as clergymen wear, but with a most uncanonical buff-belt.
1867. Felton, Anc. & Mod. Gr., II. iii. 299. He [St. George] exhibited a most uncanonical greed for money.
2. Not belonging to the canon of Scripture.
1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 369/1. Lists of Biblical books were promulgated by the orthodox Greek church in order to prevent the use of Apocryphal or uncanonical books.
1884. Churton (title), The Uncanonical and Apocryphal Scriptures, being the additions to the Old Testament Canon.
Hence Uncanonicalness.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. 38. This made him connive at Jeffery Plantaginet his holding the Bishoprick of Lincoln, though uncanonicalness on uncanonicalness met in his person.
1634. Bp. Lloyd, Ch. Govt. Brit., vi. 130. Here was another Uncanonicalness,… that he intruded into a See, into which another had been Elected.
