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. °As a verb, often confused with censure. censorial adj. censorship n.
[ L f. censere assess: in sense 3 mistransl. of G Zensur censorship ]