canonical hour

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.

canonical hour

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of canonical hour¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Two nights ago, in an odah full of men, the Kurdish khanji, at the canonical hour, fell down on his forehead at prayer in the midst of us, all daggers, pistols, and finery as he was.

From Project Gutenberg

Um, um, um, the canonical hour——Um, um, very well—My dear Plume! give me a buss.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

To sing the requiems Is thine by special right, To each canonical hour, In which the bells are rung.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg