n. & v.
--n.
1. an official authorized to examine printed matter, films, news, etc., before public release, and to suppress any parts on the grounds of obscenity, a threat to security, etc.
2 Rom.Hist. either of two annual magistrates responsible for holding censuses and empowered to supervise public morals.
3 Psychol. an impulse which is said to prevent certain ideas and memories from emerging into consciousness.
--v.tr.
1. act as a censor of.
2 make deletions or changes in.
Usage:
As a verb, often confused with censure.
Derivatives:
censorial adj. censorship n.
Etymology: L f. censere assess: in sense 3 mistransl. of G Zensur censorship