censor English · revision 912

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɛnsə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɛnsɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|censor]] and directly [[der|la|cēnsor|t=Roman censor]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''cēnsēre'' “to assess, appraise, give as one's opinion”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) perhaps related to Sanskrit ''śaṃsati'' “he praises”.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Either of the two magistrates of ancient Rome who kept the census of citizens and supervised public morals (1526 in Merriam-Webster; 1531 in Barnhart; 1533 in the OED).^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Roman censors also had charge of public finances and works.^(Etymonline) In English the word was extended to anyone exercising supervision over morals and conduct (1592),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to a fault-finder (1599).^(OED 1989) From 1644 it named an official who examines books and plays before publication,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and by the early 19th century chiefly a state agent who suppresses politically subversive matter.^(Etymonline) Wartime censors of private letters date from 1914,^(OED 1989) and in psychology the ''censor'' is a mental force that represses unacceptable thoughts (1912).^(OED 1989)^(AHD) The verb dates from 1833–82.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1526 – the Roman magistrate (Merriam-Webster).^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1592 – a supervisor of morals.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1644 – an official who examines publications.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1882 – verb, to act as censor.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1912 – in psychology, a repressive mental force.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1914 – a censor of private correspondence.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An official who examines books, films, news and other material in order to suppress parts considered objectionable on moral, political or military grounds.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An official who reads private letters and dispatches, as in wartime, and removes sensitive information.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(history)'' Either of two magistrates of ancient Rome who took the [[census]] and supervised public morals.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person who censures or criticizes; a faultfinder.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(psychology)'' A supposed mental agency that represses unacceptable impulses before they reach consciousness.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable; to suppress as objectionable.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[censorable]]

+ * [[censorial]]

+ * [[censorship]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[censorious]]

+ * [[censure]]

+ * [[census]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wiktionary notes that ''censor'' should not be confused with ''[[censer]]'', a container for burning incense, or ''[[censure]]'', an official reprimand.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}