Main Entry:

¹cen·sor

Pronunciation:

\ˈsen(t)-sər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Latin, Roman magistrate, from censēre to give as one's opinion, assess; perhaps akin to Sanskrit śaṁsati 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 conduct3: a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness

— cen·so·ri·al \sen-ˈsȯr-ē-əl\ adjective