canon
n 1: a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally
established as valid and fundamental in a field or art
or philosophy: "the neoclassical canon"; "canons of
polite society"
2: a priest who is a member of a cathedral chapter
3: (North America) a ravine formed by a river in an area with
little rainfall [syn: {canyon}]
4: a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part
is imitated exactly in other parts
5: a collection of books accepted as holy scripture especially
the books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church
as genuine and inspired