English
canonical
Canonical comes from Medieval Latin canōnicālis.
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500canōnicālis
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500canonycal
- Englishearliest quotation 1732canonical
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500canōnicālis
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500canonycal
- Englishearliest quotation 1732canonical
Earliest quotation: 1732, George Reynolds, A diſſertation: or: “In a word, they were made uſe of by…”
Equivalent to canon + -ical
Ancient Greek κανών ‘measuring rod, standard’
Latin canōn ‘a measuring line’
Old French canon
Middle English canoun ‘Ecclesiastical regulations’
English canon
Every English word from Medieval Latin canōnicālis
Today it means
adj Present in a canon, religious or otherwise.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Medieval Latin canōnicālis / canonical