canon
UK: ˈkænən | US: ˈkænən
n. a general rule, principle, or standard by which something is judged
n. a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine
n. a piece of music in which the same melody is repeated by different voices
The word "canon" traces back to the Greek kanōn, meaning "measuring rod" or "standard." It entered Latin as canon, retaining the sense of a rule or guideline. Over time, it expanded to denote authoritative texts (e.g., biblical canon) and musical compositions with repeating patterns. The morpheme "can" reflects the core idea of a standard, while "-on" solidifies it as a noun.
The novel is considered part of the Western literary canon.
The council debated which texts should be included in the biblical canon.
Bach’s "Canon in D" is a masterpiece of Baroque music.
The professor challenged the traditional canon of philosophical works.
These guidelines form the canon of ethical journalism.