Canon

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For the word "Cannon", see Cannon (disambiguation).
Look up canon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Canon from Greek kanon "rule" (perhaps originally from kanna "reed", cognate to cane) is used in various meanings. The pertaining adjective is canonical.

"Canon" also has many other uses; most given here are derived from the primary meaning above, but some are unrelated.

Contents

[edit] Business

  • Canon Inc., a Japanese corporation that specializes in imaging and optical products including consumer photographic cameras. The company is named after Kuan Yin.

[edit] Literature

In literature, canon refers to a fixed collection of texts, such as:

[edit] Music

  • Canon (music), a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations; e.g. Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major.
  • Kanun (Instrument), a stringed instrument also spelled as canon.

[edit] Religion

[edit] Christian theological or ecclesiastical contexts

  • Canon law, all legislation adopted by an ecumenical council, most notably found in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Anglican Communion of churches.
  • Canon (hymnography), a type of Eastern Orthodox hymn.
  • The canon of saints, see Canonization.
  • Canon (priest), a Christian priest who belongs to one of certain chapters, from Latin canonicus.
  • Canon of the Mass, the name in the Roman Missal for the prayer of consecration in the mass.
  • another term for the altar cards containing certain eucharistic prayers.

[edit] Muslim theological and secular context

[edit] Other uses

  • Canons was a country estate outside of London, named after the Duke of Chandos, where the current Canons Park is located.
  • cannon - the large tubular firearm (obsolete spelling canon, ultimately also cognate to cane).

[edit] See also