canoni

Canoni is the Italian plural of canone, a noun with several related meanings depending on context. In everyday use, canone denotes a fixed annual sum owed under a contract or regulation. Examples include the canone di affitto (rental payment), canone di abbonamento (subscription fee), and canone TV, the Italian television license. These payments are typically regular and legally or contractually required.

In ecclesiastical law, canone (plural canoni) refers to a rule or statute within a codified body of church law. Canoni are the individual provisions of the Code of Canon Law, and the term is common in discussions of church discipline and governance.

In art, architecture, and music, canone describes a standard or rule of composition. In classical aesthetics, the canone of proportions defines intended measures for the human body or architectural form. In music, a canone is a contrapuntal technique in which a voice imitates another at a fixed interval; when multiple such pieces are involved, they may be referred to as canoni.

Etymology traces canone to Latin canone, from Greek kanon meaning a rule or measuring rod, a usage that broadened to refer to both financial obligations and formal rules. The plural canoni appears primarily in technical or formal discourse, while the singular canone remains common in general language. The term may also appear in proper names or historical titles where appropriate.