cen|sor

cen|sor «SEHN suhr», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a person who examines books, newspapers and news reports, plays, motion pictures, and letters, and, if necessary, changes or prohibits them to make them acceptable to the government or the organization that employs him: »

The novel was banned by the censor as likely to stir up suspicion of the government among the students.

2. a person who tells others how they ought to behave; a person who exercises supervision over the morals or behavior of others. SYNONYM(S): monitor.

3. a person who likes to find fault; adverse critic. SYNONYM(S): faultfinder.

4. a magistrate in ancient Rome who took the census, supervised the conduct of citizens, and gave out public contracts: »

Cato the Censor.

5. Psychoanalysis. the influence of the ego, ego ideal, or superego that tends to exclude unwelcome memories or impulses from the consciousness, unless suitably disguised.

6. an official in some British universities responsible for the studies and conduct of nonboarding students.

–v.t.

to examine or change as a censor; take out parts of (news reports, books, letters, plays, or motion pictures): »

The foreign government censored the reporter's story of a revolt. Two scenes in the movie were censored for having too much violence.

╂[< Latin cēnsor < cēnsēreappraise]

–cen´sor|a|ble, adjective.