Obs. Also 6–8 cens, 7 cence. [a. OF. cense (mod.F. cens):—L. census registration of citizens, property, etc., census, f. censēre to estimate, rate, assess, etc.]
1. A tax or tribute; = CENSUS 2.
1524. St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 374. The pention and cense, which the Frenche King payd before the warris.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Matt. xvii. 25. The kings of the earth of whom receive they tribute or cense?
1661. J. Stephens, Procurations, 76. A Cense, or Tribute in money payd to the Bishop … from the inferiour Clergie.
1741. T. Robinson, Gavelkind, i. 3. Which … yielded no Cens, Rent, or Service in Money.
1763. Burn, Eccl. Law (1797), III. 120.
2. = CENSUS 1, 3.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 316. Mony yeris eftir thare wes na cens, that is to say, estimacioun of men, be thare gudis.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. xlii. 30. He [Servius Tullius] devised and ordained the Cense.
1720. Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), I. I. i. 3/1. In the year 1636 … Sir Edward Bromfield then Mayor took occasion … to make a Cense or Computation of the people who were … found to be 700,000.
b. An enumeration or list (of things).
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 279. In all the Cense of Hereditary diseases.
3. Rating, taken as determining position or rank; ‘rate’; income.
1627. Feltham, Resolves, II. lii. (1677), 264. More resplendent in their robes, than others of a larger cense.
1636. B. Jonson, Discov. (1692), 713/1. A man whose estate and cense … you are familiar with.
1650. Elderfield, Tythes, 298. A person of cense and possession.
