protocanonical, a.
(ˌprəʊtəʊkəˈnɒnɪkəl)
[f. mod.L. prōtōcanonic-us (see proto- 1 + canon) + -al1.]
See quots.: opp. to deuterocanonical.
| [1566 A. F. Sixtus Senensis Bibl. Sancta i. (1575) 13 Canonici primi ordinis, quos Protocanonicos appellare libet,..de quorum autoritate nulla vnquam in Ecclesia catholica fuit dubitatio, aut controuersia.] |
| 1629 T. Adams Medit. Creed Wks. 1862 III. 86 [The Creed] is the word of God,..not protocanonical scripture, yet the key of the holy Scripture. 1684 N. S. Crit. Enq. Edit. Bible App. 263 In the first [Classis] he reckons those [Books] which he calls Protocanonical, or Canonical of the first Order. 1727–51 [see deuterocanonical]. 1849 W. Fitzgerald tr. Whitaker's Disput. 49 The proto-canonical [books] are those which are counted in the legitimate and genuine canon. |