canonical hour

American  

noun

1. Ecclesiastical. any of certain periods of the day set apart for prayer and devotion: these are matins and lauds, prime, tierce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline.

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canonical hour British  

noun

1. RC Church

   1. one of the seven prayer times appointed for each day by canon law

   2. the services prescribed for these times, namely matins, prime, terce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline

2. Church of England any time between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. at which marriages may lawfully be celebrated

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Etymology

Origin of canonical hour

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

The Abbey court sat in the chapter-house at the canonical hour of tierce, which was nine in the forenoon.

From Sir Nigel by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

From one canonical hour to the next they were there in converse, and making a covenant.

From The Latin & Irish Lives of Ciaran Translations Of Christian Literature. Series V. Lives Of The Celtic Saints by MacAlister, R.A. Stewart

If the recital of the office for any canonical hour be interrupted, should the whole hour be repeated?

From The Divine Office by Quigley, Edward J.

"Kaylúlah," mid-day sleep; called siesta from the sixth canonical hour.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 01 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

You may think it impossible for me to reach London by the canonical hour.

From Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 6 by Richardson, Samuel