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

It was not the slow, rhythmic pealing that announced the canonical hours, but a strident, urgent clamor, a call to important news.

From Literature

The a cappella work is austere compared with the lush Romanticism of Rachmaninoff’s virtuoso piano works, but the setting of traditional texts from the canonical hours of the Russian Orthodox Church is harmonically gorgeous.

From New York Times

While the a cappella work is austere compared to the lush Romanticism of his virtuoso piano works, the setting of traditional texts from the canonical hours of the Russian Orthodox Church is still plenty decadent.

From New York Times

She was to be last in choir at all the canonical hours, and when not in choir to be confined in solitude.

From Project Gutenberg

The canonical hours and chants were renewed in the churches, and every effort was made to accustom the people to a resurrection of the old order of things.

From Project Gutenberg