proto-canonical
|pro-to-ca-non-i-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌproʊtoʊ kəˈnænɪkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌprəʊtəʊ kəˈnɒnɪk(ə)l/
early canonical form
Etymology
'proto-canonical' originates from the Greek prefix 'proto-' (from Greek 'prôtos' meaning 'first') combined with 'canonical', which ultimately comes from Greek 'kanon' via Latin 'canonicus' (meaning 'rule' or 'standard').
'canonical' entered English through Latin 'canonicus' and Old French 'canonique'; 'proto-' comes from Greek 'prôtos' ('first'). The compound 'proto-canonical' was formed in modern English by joining the prefix 'proto-' to 'canonical' to denote an 'early or first canonical form'.
Originally the elements meant 'first' ('proto-') and 'rule/standard' ('canonical'); together in modern usage they have come to mean 'an early form regarded as part of or leading to a canon' rather than a literal 'first rule'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or being an early or initial form that precedes and helps produce what is later regarded as canonical.
Scholars examined several proto-canonical manuscripts to trace the development of the established text.
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Adjective 2
in textual criticism and historical studies, describing hypothesized source texts, traditions, or editions that are precursors to a later canonical version.
The article proposed a reconstruction of the proto-canonical gospel tradition behind the later redactions.
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Last updated: 2025/12/21 12:43