canonical hour

noun

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.

Origin of canonical hour

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for canonical hour

canonical hour

noun

RC Church

one of the seven prayer times appointed for each day by canon law
the services prescribed for these times, namely matins, prime, terce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline

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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