Forms: 5–6 sensour, 6 sensor, 6–7 censour, 6– censor. [a. L. censor, f. censēre: see CENSE v.2]
1. The title of two magistrates in ancient Rome, who drew up the register or census of the citizens, etc., and had the supervision of public morals.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, IV. (1822), 323. In this yere began the office of censouris.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. iii. 252. Twice being Censor.
1742. Middleton, Cicero, I. 117. These Censors were the guardians of the discipline and manners of the City.
1838–43. Arnold, Hist. Rome, III. xliv. 172. Censors, to whom the duty of making out the roll of the senate … belonged.
2. transf. One who exercises official or officious supervision over morals and conduct.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), II. 224. I am a seuere sensor to such as offend the law.
1622. Massinger, etc. Old Law, V. i. Cleanthes … for his manifest virtues, we make such judge and censor of youth.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., I. xx. 564. The bishop was the perpetual censor of the morals of his people.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxxiv. Regarding his father as a rigid censor.
1871. J. Duncan, Colloquia Perip., 118. Punch is a censor, but not censorious.
b. spec. An official in some countries whose duty it is to inspect all books, journals, dramatic pieces, etc., before publication, to secure that they shall contain nothing immoral, heretical or offensive to the government.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 56. He … must appear in print like a punie with his guardian, and his censors hand on the back of his title, to be his bayl and suretye that he is no idiot or seducer.
1732. Fielding, Covent Gard. Jrnl., No. 3. A record in the censor’s office.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 607. I prevailed so far as to have it submitted to the inspection of a Censor.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 103. Information … received with caution by the censors of the press.
1871. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 140. A man of letters whose life was tormented by censors of the press.
c. In Universities and Colleges, the title of various officials.
At Oxford and Cambridge it is the title of the official Head of the Non-collegiate or ‘Unattached’ Students; in the Royal College of Physicians, the officers who grant licenses.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 359. Intolerably impudent, saucy and refractory to the Censor.
1876. Grant, Burgh Sch. Scotl., II. iv. 146. The providing of censors and examiners.
1885. Oxf. Univ. Calendar, 281. The [Non-collegiate] Students are under the supervision of the Censor, who is charged with the care of their conduct and studies.
1885. Med. Directory, s.v. Coll. of Physicians, All other candidates for Membership shall be examined on the subjects of General Education by the President and Censors of the College.
d. U.S. (See quot.)
[1625. N. Carpenter, Geog. Del., II. xv. 257. The Censors and moderators to decide controuersies in matters of state and kingdomes.]
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 349. A council of censors, to consist of thirteen persons to be elected by the people every seventh year. The duty assigned to them is to inquire whether the constitution has been preserved inviolate.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., V. xxii. 577. Once in seven years an elective council of censors was to take care that freedom and the constitution were preserved in purity.
3. † a. One who judges or criticizes (obs.). b. esp. One who censures or blames; an adverse critic; one given to fault-finding.
1599. Marston, Sco. Villanie, II. vi. 199. Hence, thou misiudging Censor.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 502. Referred or brought hereunto as vnto their Iudge and Censor.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, V. Ded. 406. Baited by the differing censures of diverse censors.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 172, ¶ 5. Nor can the most … steady rectitude escape blame from censors, who have no inclination to approve.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 661. Not … understood either by eulogists or by censors.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., 4. A defence of the Universities against their censors.
