Explanation of "Canonical"
Definition:
The word "canonical" is an adjective that means something that follows accepted rules or standards. It often refers to ideas, texts, or practices that are considered official or authoritative.
Usage Instructions
Use "canonical" when you want to describe something that is widely accepted, traditional, or recognized as a standard in a particular field.
It is often used in academic, religious, or literary contexts.
Examples
Basic Example: "Shakespeare's plays are considered canonical works of English literature."
(This means that Shakespeare's plays are widely accepted as important and standard works in literature.)
Advanced Example: "In mathematics, the canonical form of an equation makes it easier to analyze and solve."
(This means that the canonical form is a standard way of writing the equation that simplifies the problem.)
Different Meanings
Religious Context: In a religious context, "canonical" can refer to texts that are officially accepted as part of a religious scripture. For example, "The Gospel of Mark is a canonical book of the Christian New Testament."
Legal Context: In law, particularly canon law, "canonical" can refer to rules that are officially recognized by the Church.
Word Variants
Canon: A noun referring to a standard or a collection of texts (e.g., the canon of literature).
Canonicity: A noun that refers to the state of being canonical.
Synonyms
Standard
Authoritative
Official
Accepted
Traditional
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
"By the book": This idiom means to do something according to established rules, similar to "canonical."
While "canonical" does not have specific phrasal verbs, you might encounter phrases like "to adhere to canonical standards," which means to follow established norms.
Summary
In summary, "canonical" is an important term that describes something recognized as standard or authoritative. It is often used in literature, religion, and academia to denote works or practices that conform to accepted rules.