Library / English Dictionary

BOWDLERISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

Example:

bowdlerize a novel

Synonyms:

bowdlerise; bowdlerize; castrate; expurgate; shorten

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "bowdlerise" is one way to...):

abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten (reduce in scope while retaining essential elements)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They won't bowdlerise the story

Derivation:

Bowdler (English editor who in 1818 published an expurgated edition of the works of Shakespeare (1754-1825))

bowdlerisation (the act of deleting or modifying all passages considered to be indecent)

bowdlerisation (written material that has been bowdlerized)

bowdleriser (a person who edits a text by removing obscene or offensive words or passages)

Credits