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

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

From Humorous Ghost Stories by Scarborough, Dorothy

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

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 Frith, William Powell

Nay, as an Irishman would say, you need not even read this note till the canonical hour is past.

From The Letters of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford — Volume 4 by Walpole, Horace

For forty interminable minutes did the little party wait in the dreary church aisles, until the clock, and likewise the beadle, warned them it was near the canonical hour.

From Agatha's Husband A Novel by Crane, Walter