Canonical
WordNet
adjective
(1) Conforming to orthodox or recognized rules
"The drinking of cocktails was as canonical a rite as the mixing"- Sinclair Lewis
(2) Reduced to the simplest and most significant form possible without loss of generality
"A basic story line"
"A canonical syllable pattern"
(3) Of or relating to or required by canon law
(4) Appearing in a biblical canon
"A canonical book of the Christian New Testament"
WiktionaryText
Adjective
- Present in a canon of Scripture.
- The Gospel of Luke is a canonical New Testament book.
- In conformity with canon law.
- According to recognised or orthodox rules.
- The men played golf in the most canonical way, with no local rules.
- Stated or used in the most basic and straightforwardly applicable manner.
- This definition would be more useful if it were canonical.
- In the form of a canon.
- Of or pertaining to an ecclesiastical chapter
- In canonical form.
Trivia
Canonical was the winning word at the 15th Scripps National Spelling Bee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee