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canoness

American  
[kan-uh-nis] / ˈkæn ə nɪs /

noun

  1. a member of a Christian community of women living under a rule but not under a vow.

canoness British  
/ ˈkænənɪs /

noun

  1. RC Church a woman belonging to any one of several religious orders and living under a rule but not under a vow

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Gender

What's the difference between canoness and canon? See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of canoness

First recorded in 1675–85; canon 2 + -ess

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The nine-day period began with his canonizing as Saints Lucia Filippini, foundress of the religious educational order Maestre Pie Filippini, and Caterina Thoma, a Spanish canoness.

From Time Magazine Archive

"A cup of coffee?" the old canoness asked the newcomer.

From 'O Thou, My Austria!' by Schubin, Ossip

Behind rode the father of the bride sunk in thought, and along with him was his pious sister Notburge, the canoness of Nonnenwerth.

From Legends of the Rhine by Ruland, Wilhelm

"Stay with us, my daughter?" cried the canoness, "for you have a lofty soul and a great heart!"

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 07 — Fiction by Mee, Arthur

Consuelo knelt before him; he looked fixedly at her, and then, giving a sign to the canoness, she placed his arms on Consuelo's shoulders.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 07 — Fiction by Mee, Arthur

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.