Definition
Plural of canoness; women who are members of a religious community under a canon (religious law) but not necessarily taking full monastic vows.
Etymology
From 'canoness' (canon + -ess suffix for females) plus plural -es. Refers to women in medieval religious communities with more flexibility than nuns.
Kelly Says
Canonesses occupied a fascinating middle ground in medieval religion—they lived religiously without surrendering all worldly ties, offering a path for educated women seeking spiritual life.
Translations
ARالعربية
قانونيات
qawniyyāt
CACatalà
canonisses
ka-no-ni-sses
CSČeština
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
DADansk
canonisser
ka-no-ni-ser
DEDeutsch
Kanonisinnen
ka-no-ni-zi-nen
ELΕλληνικά
κανόνισσες
ka-no-ni-sses
ESEspañol
canonisas
kan-o-ni-sas
FAفارسی
قانونگذاری
qa-no-on-ghola-yee
FISuomi
kanonissa
ka-no-ni-ssa
FRFrançais
canonesses
kan-ɔ-nes
HAHA
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
HEעברית
קנוניות
ka-no-ni-yot
HIहिन्दी
काननिस
ka-na-ni-s
HUMagyar
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
IDBahasa Indonesia
canonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
ITItaliano
canonesse
kan-o-nes-se
MSBahasa Melayu
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
NLNederlands
canonissinnen
ka-no-ni-sin-nen
NONorsk
kanonisser
ka-no-ni-ser
PLPolski
kanoniz
ka-no-niz
PTPortuguês
canonisas
kan-o-ni-sas
RORomână
canonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
RUРусский
канóни́сы
kan-o-ni-sy
SVSvenska
kanonis
ka-no-nis
SWKiswahili
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
THไทย
นางเอกสิทธิ์
naang ek sit
TLTL
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
TRTürkçe
canonesses
kan-o-nes
UKУкраїнська
каноні́си
ka-no-ni-sy
VITiếng Việt
nữ tu sĩ
nu tu si
YOYO
kanonisa
ka-no-ni-sa
ZUZU
ikhonisi
i-kho-ni-si
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Plural of canoness; same historical subordination through feminized suffix.
Inclusive Usage
Use accurately for historical reference; acknowledge power these women held despite linguistically marginalizing terminology.
Inclusive Alternatives
["canons","female canons"]
Empowerment Note
Canonesses collectively governed large communities and institutions; recognize their authority obscured by gender-marked language.