Canon

1can;on pronunciation: function: noun etymology: middle english, from old english, from late latin, from latin, ruler, rule, model, standard, from greek kanōndate: before 12th century 1 a : a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council b : a provision of canon law2 [middle english, from anglo-french, from late latin, from latin, model] : the most solemn and unvarying part of the mass including the consecration of the bread and wine3 [middle english, from late latin, from latin, standard] a : an authoritative list of books accepted as holy scripture b : the authentic works of a writer c : a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works lt;the canon of great literaturegt;4 a : an accepted principle or rule b : a criterion or standard of judgment c : a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms5 [late greek kanōn, from greek, model] : a contrapuntal musical composition in which each successively entering voice presents the initial theme usually transformed in a strictly consistent waysynonyms see law