canon
Authoritative body established
Canon is an authoritative collection of works or principles accepted as genuine or foundational.
The biblical canon is the set of books recognized as scripture.
Literary canons are bodies of work considered essential: the Western canon, the canon of English literature.
In fiction, canon refers to events officially part of a story's universe, as opposed to fan-created content: That spinoff isn't canon.
Canon law is the body of rules governing a church.
A canon is also a member of the clergy attached to a cathedral or collegiate church.
In music, a canon is a composition where voices enter successively, each imitating the melody—Pachelbel's Canon being the famous example. (Capitalized Canon is the camera and electronics company.)
Scripturally disputed religious texts
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- ecclesiasticalRelating to church matters
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
orthodoxy · authoritative · sacred texts · deuterocanonical · Gospel · synod · council · testament
Having recognized expertise
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- acceptedFormally agreed to
- establishedFormally set up
- recognizedPerceived as familiar
approved · definitive · legitimate · authentic · sanctioned · orthodox · conventional · traditional
Traditional knowledge transmitted orally
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- timelineOrdered display of events
retcon · expanded universe · headcanon · MCU · Star Wars · Tolkien · franchise · mythology
Binding principle or regulation
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
Curved like circle
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- imitationCopy of the original
- counterpointSimultaneous independent melodies
voices · choral · repetition · melody · progression · baroque · contrapuntal · Bach
Works of lasting value
- ShakespeareElizabethan dramatist and poet
- HomerAncient Greek epic composer
- AustenLiterary family name
- DickensSurname of Victorian novelist
Tolstoy · Hemingway · Brontë · Orwell · masterpiece · anthology · curriculum · syllabus
Formal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
diocese · gospel · homily · incense · mass · nave · ordination · parish
Instrument for inflicting harm
- gunpowderCombustible propellant mixture
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
ammunition · projectile · mortar · howitzer · naval · battleship · volley · rampart
Apocrypha
Scripturally disputed religious texts
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- ecclesiasticalRelating to church matters
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
dogma · orthodoxy · authoritative · sacred texts · deuterocanonical · Gospel · synod · council · testament
authoritative
Having recognized expertise
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- acceptedFormally agreed to
- establishedFormally set up
recognized · approved · definitive · legitimate · authentic · sanctioned · orthodox · conventional · traditional · prescribed
lore
Traditional knowledge transmitted orally
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- officialAuthority-sanctioned person or status
- storylineSequence of fictional events
timeline · retcon · expanded universe · headcanon · MCU · Star Wars · Tolkien · franchise · mythology · worldbuilding
law
Binding principle or regulation
- decreeAuthoritative legal command
- principleFundamental truth or standard
- standardLevel of quality accepted
regulation · precept · ordinance · statute · edict · church law · codex
round
Curved like circle
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- imitationCopy of the original
counterpoint · voices · choral · repetition · melody · progression · baroque · contrapuntal · Bach · repertoire
classics
Works of lasting value
- ShakespeareElizabethan dramatist and poet
- HomerAncient Greek epic composer
- AustenLiterary family name
Tolstoy · Dickens · Hemingway · Brontë · Orwell · masterpiece · anthology · curriculum · syllabus · literary tradition
liturgy
Formal worship structure
chalice · diocese · gospel · homily · incense · mass · nave · ordination · parish · pulpit
weapon
Instrument for inflicting harm
- gunpowderCombustible propellant mixture
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
bombardment · ammunition · projectile · mortar · howitzer · naval · battleship · volley · rampart · ordnance
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- choral musicchoral music, choral works, choral arrangements, choral arrangement, choir arrangements
- counterpointcounterpoint, subject, answer, real answer, round
- Anglican Clergybishop, priest, deacon, vicar, curate
- English literature relationsliterary influence, adaptation, intertextuality, allusion, borrowing
- literary worldauthors, writers, poets, novelists, literary agents
canonapocrypha
Works of doubtful authenticity
non-canon · fanfiction · pseudepigrapha · fan fiction · headcanon
canondeviation
Departure from expected path
exception · irregularity · heterodoxy · anomaly · improvisation
canonheresy
Belief opposing official doctrine
heterodoxy · apostasy · dissent · unorthodoxy · revisionism
- Grand CanyonMassive Arizona gorge
- box canyonDead-end ravine with steep walls
- canyon bottom
- canyon wallsSteep sides of gorges
- literary canonEstablished important texts
- slot canyonNarrow erosion-carved ravine
canyon, canonical, canonize, canons, canonized, canonizing, canonicity, canonizes, noncanonical