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Epitome vs Canonical - What's the difference?

epitome | canonical |

As nouns the difference between epitome and canonical

is that epitome is (label) (embodiment or encapsulation of) while canonical is (roman catholicism) the formal robes of a priest.

As an adjective canonical is

present in a canon, religious or otherwise.

epitome

English

Noun

(wikipedia epitome) (en-noun)
  • (of a class of items) The embodiment or encapsulation of.
  • (of a class of items) A representative example.
  • (of a class of items) The height; the best.
  • (of a written document) A brief summary.
  • Usage notes

    The sense ‘the height, the best’ is considered incorrect by some; instead, `pinnacle' may be preferred.

    Synonyms

    * (an embodiment of) in a nutshell (modern idiom), synopsis * (the best) greatest * (a summary) abstract, synopsis

    Antonyms

    * antithesis

    Derived terms

    * epitomize * epitomic * epitomical

    canonical

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Present in a canon, religious or otherwise.
  • The is a canonical New Testament book.
  • 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.
  • the reduction of a linear substitution to its canonical form
  • Prototypical.
  • (religion) In conformity with canon law.
  • (music) In the form of a canon.
  • (religion) Of or pertaining to an ecclesiastical chapter
  • (mathematics, computing) In canonical form.
  • (mathematics) Distinguished among entities of its kind, so that it can be picked out in a way that does not depend on any arbitrary choices.
  • Synonyms

    * (mathematics) natural

    Antonyms

    * (scripture) apocryphal

    Derived terms

    * canonically

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Roman Catholicism) The formal robes of a priest
  • * {{quote-book, year=1857, author=Various, title=The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 1, Issue 2, December, 1857, chapter=, edition= citation
  • , passage=He, good man, could make but little of his solitary friend, and must many a time have been startled out of his canonicals by the strange, alien speeches which he heard. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1915, author=, title=The Research Magnificent, chapter=, edition= citation
  • , passage=When I was a boy I was a passionate atheist, I defied God, and so far as God is the mere sanction of social traditions and pressures, a mere dressing up of the crowd's will in canonicals , I do still deny him and repudiate him. }}
  • * {{quote-book, year=1891, author=, title=The White Lady of Hazelwood, chapter=, edition= citation
  • , passage=Mr Altham rose, as in duty bound, in honour to a priest, and a priest who, as he dimly discerned by his canonicals , was not altogether a common one. }}