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

See Examples For:

canonical hour

Leech draws the baronet awakened by his servant, but too late: the canonical hour has passed.

From John Leech, His Life and Work. Vol. 1 by William Powell Frith

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

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

Between ourselves, she has kissed away "half-past twelve," which I suppose to be the canonical hour in Hanover Square.

From The Best Letters of Charles Lamb by Charles Lamb

Prime is properly the first canonical hour of prayer, or 6 a.m.

From The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott

Deuce of any ghost shall we see to-night; it's long past the canonical hour.

From Humorous Ghost Stories by Dorothy Scarborough