censor

views updated May 23 2018

cen·sor / ˈsensər/ • n. 1. an official who examines material that is about to be released, such as books, movies, news, and art, and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. ∎  Psychoanalysis an aspect of the superego that is said to prevent certain ideas and memories from emerging into consciousness.2. (in ancient Rome) either of two magistrates who held censuses and supervised public morals.• v. [tr.] (often be censored) examine (a book, movie, etc.) officially and suppress unacceptable parts of it.DERIVATIVES: cen·so·ri·al / senˈsôrēəl/ adj.

censor

views updated May 14 2018

censor supervisor of morals, etc. XVI. — L. cēnsor, f. cēnsēre pronounce as an opinion, assess, judge.
Hence censor vb. XIX. So censure †judgement XIV; adverse judgement XVII. — (O)F. — L. cēnsūra; see -URE. censure vb. XVI. — F. censurer.

censor

views updated May 18 2018

censor originally (in ancient Rome), either of two magistrates who held censuses and supervised public morals. Later, in extended use, an official who examines material that is about to be published, such as books, films, news, and art, and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.

censor

views updated May 29 2018

censor Public official of ancient Rome (443–22 bc). Two censors were elected for 18-month terms. Besides taking the census, they supervised public works, finance and morals, and filled senatorial vacancies.

censor

views updated Jun 11 2018

censor (sen-ser) n. (in psychology) the mechanism, postulated by Freud, that suppresses or modifies desires that are inappropriate or feared.