n.
Pronunciation: ' sen(t)-s ə r
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, Roman magistrate, from cens ē re to give as one's opinion, assess; perhaps akin to Sanskrit ś a ṁ sati he praises
Date: 1526
1 : a person who supervises conduct and morals: as a : an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter b : an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful
2 : one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct
3 : a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness
– cen · so · ri · al \ sen- ' so ̇ r- ē - ə l \ adjective