First published 1889; not yet revised More entries for "censure"

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censurenoun

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censure, n. in OED Second Edition (1989)

In other dictionaries

censūre, n. in Middle English Dictionary

1.
†
1. 1.a.
  c1470–1726
  
  A judicial sentence; esp. a condemnatory judgement. Obsolete.
  c1470
  He should it haue by execucion due, By sensours of theyr churche and hole sentence.
  J. Hardyng, Chronicle clxiii. iii
  1567
  According to y^e infallyble censure of god.
  T. Palfreyman, Baldwin's Treat. Morall Philos. (new edition) iii. vi. 102^v
  1637
  A speech delivered in the Starr-chamber... At the censure, of Iohn Bastwick, Henry Burton & William Prinn.
  W. Laud (title)
  1647
  He was brought to..the House of Lords to receive his Censure.
  T. May, History of Parliament ii. vi. 115
  1712
  A person..is ordered to be dragged after a boat at Douglas..and the Governor is desired to give his order for soldiers and a boat to execute this censure.
  Bishop T. Wilson in J. Keble, Life of Thomas Wilson: Part I (1863) ix. 295
  1726
  The Council thought the loss of your Eyes too easy a Censure.
  J. Swift, Gulliver vol. I. i. vii. 125
  law
  society law administration of justice court proceedings or procedure judging sentencing [nouns] sentence
  doomOld English–
  
  A judgement or decision, esp. one formally pronounced; a sentence; mostly in adverse sense, condemnation, sentence of punishment.
  rightOld English–1500
  
  Judicial decision, judgment; a judgment, verdict, or sentence. Also (in quot. 1500): a judge. Obsolete.
  juise1303–1480
  
  Judgement, doom; a judicial sentence, or its execution; penalty.
  sentencec1340–
  
  An authoritative decision; a judgement pronounced by a tribunal. The judicial determination of the punishment to be inflicted on a convicted…
  censurec1470–1726
  
  A judicial sentence; esp. a condemnatory judgement. Obsolete.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 1.b.
  a1390–1845
  
  spec. ‘A spiritual punishment inflicted by some ecclesiastical judge.’ Ayliffe. (The earliest recorded sense.)
  a1390
  Censures þat þe fend blowiþ, as ben suspendingis, enterditingis, cursingis, and reisingis of croiserie.
  J. Wyclif, Select English Works vol. III. 361
  a1513
  He purchasyd agayne hym the Censures of Holy Churche & accursed the sayde Bawdewyn.
  R. Fabyan, New Cronycles of Englande & Fraunce (1516) vol. I. clxvi. f. lxxxxv
  a1694
  The publick censures of the church.
  J. Tillotson, Sermon vol. I. xxv. (R.)
  1726
  J. Ayliffe, Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 155.
  1845
  The deprivation of spiritual advantages, and the censures of the Church.
  Graves in Encyclopædia Metropolitana 784/1
  ecclesiastical law ecclesiastical
  society faith religious practice, duty, or worship excommunication [nouns] rite of
  curseOld English–
  
  spec. A formal ecclesiastical censure or anathema; a sentence of excommunication.
  sentencec1290–1523
  
  An authoritative decision; a judgement pronounced by a tribunal. spec. = sentence of excommunication.
  malisonc1300–
  
  A curse, a malediction.
  censurea1390–1845
  
  spec. ‘A spiritual punishment inflicted by some ecclesiastical judge.’ Ayliffe. (The earliest recorded sense.)
  church censurec1460–
  
  Punishment imposed by the church, typically consisting of some form of spiritual deprivation such as excommunication or denial of Christian…
  ban1481–
  
  A formal ecclesiastical denunciation; anathema, interdict, excommunication.
  censurya1513–23
  
  = censure, n. 1b.
  anathematism1567–
  
  In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches: the formal statement or declaration of an anathema (anathema, n.¹ A.2b); an ecclesiastical denunciation…
  anathema1603–
  
  More generally: a curse or imprecation; a condemnation or denunciation.
  imprecation1603–
  
  (With plural) An invocation of evil, a curse.
  excommunication1702–
  
  Short for ‘sentence of excommunication’.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
  society faith administration and structure of religious organizations church government ecclesiastical discipline court legal process [nouns] spiritual punishment inflicted by judge
  censurea1390–1845
  
  spec. ‘A spiritual punishment inflicted by some ecclesiastical judge.’ Ayliffe. (The earliest recorded sense.)
  censurya1513–23
  
  = censure, n. 1b.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
2.
a1575–1625

† A formal judgement or opinion (of an expert, referee, etc.). Obsolete.
a1575
Reasons..to underprop.. the Censures..of the said universities.
N. Harpsfield, Treatise on Divorce Henry VIII (1878) (modernized text) 81
1625
The Interlinearie Bible approued by the Censure of the Vniversitie of Louain.
J. Ussher, Answer to Jesuite 305
the mind attention and judgement judgement or decision discernment, discrimination criticism [nouns] instance of
comment1509–

A remark or note in explanation, exposition, or criticism of a literary passage; an annotation; a remark or criticism (on or upon anything).
censurea1575–1625

A formal judgement or opinion (of an expert, referee, etc.). Obsolete.
criticism1608–

An act or instance of criticizing. Also: a critical remark or comment.
hypercritic1619–1760

Hypercriticism; also a minute criticism, a critique. Obsolete.
critisma1639–98

An act of passing judgement on a person or thing; a critical remark or comment; = criticism, n. 4.
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3.
1576–1805

† gen. Judgement; opinion, esp. expressed opinion; criticism. Obsolete or archaic.
1576
To write, my censure of this booke.
W. Raleigh in G. Gascoigne, Steele Glas sig. A4
1597
Madame..will you go, To giue your censures in this waighty busines.
W. Shakespeare, Richard III ii. ii. 114
?1611
But, for me, I'll relate Only my censure what's our best.
G. Chapman, translation of Homer, Iliads xiii. 655
1624
Give me thy free and true censure.
T. Heywood, Γυναικεῖον v. 251
1649
Though unworthy to passe my censure on such a subject.
Bishop J. Hall, Resolutions & Decisions 500
1715
Our Ears refute the Censure of our Eyes.
A. Pope, translation of Homer, Iliad vol. I. iii. 288
1805
The collective censure of mankind.
J. Foster, Essays ii. iv. 164
archaic
the mind attention and judgement judgement or decision discernment, discrimination criticism [nouns]
judgementc1450–

The pronouncing of a deliberate opinion upon a person or thing, or the opinion pronounced; criticism, critique, comment; (sometimes) spec.…
censure1576–1805

gen. Judgement; opinion, esp. expressed opinion; criticism. Obsolete or archaic.
criticism1606–

The art or practice of analysing, evaluating, and commenting on the qualities and character of something, esp. literary texts or other creative…
animadverting1665–

The action or an instance of criticizing or censuring; criticism, censure; animadversion.
animadvertence1681–

Critical attention or consideration; judgement, censure; animadversion. Also: an instance of this. Now rare.
critique1690–

The art or practice of analysing, evaluating, and commenting on the qualities and character of something, esp. literary texts or other creative…
critiquing1873–

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4.
a1616–

spec. An adverse judgement, unfavourable opinion, hostile criticism; blaming, finding fault with, or condemning as wrong; expression of disapproval or condemnation. (The usual sense.)
a1616
No might, nor greatnesse in mortality Can censure scape.
W. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (1623) iii. i. 445
1630
They that vpon the hearing of one part, rashly passe their sentence, whether of acquitall, or censure.
Bishop J. Hall, Occasionall Meditations §x
1702
An author ought to receive with an equal modesty both the Praise and censure of other People.
English Theophrastus 23
1735
Vices of the graver Sort, Tobacco, Censure,..Pride, and Port.
J. Swift, Author upon Himself in Works vol. II. 344
1748
The whole conduct of this navigation seems liable to very great censure.
B. Robins & R. Walter, Voyage round World by Anson ii. x. 242
1844
Our sensitiveness to foreign and especially English censure.
R. W. Emerson, Young Amer. in Lect. in Works (1906) vol. II. 306
the mind attention and judgement judgement or decision discernment, discrimination criticism [nouns] often unfavourable
commenting1597–

criticism1607–

The passing of judgement on a person or thing; esp. the expression of a harsh or unfavourable opinion of a person or thing; fault-finding, censure.
censurea1616–

spec. An adverse judgement, unfavourable opinion, hostile criticism; blaming, finding fault with, or condemning as wrong; expression of disapproval…
judgementalism1950–

The quality of being judgemental; overly critical or moralistic behaviour.
stick1956–

A long thin piece of wood held or carried by a person. British colloquial. Criticism, censure; (also) good-natured teasing or mockery. Frequently in…
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the mind attention and judgement contempt disapproval dispraise or discommendation [nouns] censure or condemnation
condemnationc1384–

The action of condemning or of pronouncing adverse judgement on; judicial conviction; expression of disapprobation or strong censure; the fact of…
controlment1533–1646

Calling to account, calling in question, censure. Cf. control, v. 2. Obsolete.
crimination1534–1883

The action of charging with a crime or grave offence; severe accusation or censure.
condemning1591–

The action of condemn, v.
attainder1597–98

figurative. Condemnation, sentence; foul or dishonouring accusation or allegation. Obsolete.
censuring1598–

The action of censure, v.
reprobation1611–

Disapproval, censure, reproof.
censurea1616–

spec. An adverse judgement, unfavourable opinion, hostile criticism; blaming, finding fault with, or condemning as wrong; expression of disapproval…
perstringing1676

An act of perstringing or dazzling (perstringe, v. 2).
epitimesis1678–

Castigation, censure.
perstriction1681

The action of perstringing something; sharp censure, criticism. Also: a hint or allusion. rare.
damning1707–

Condemnation by publicly expressed disapproval; an instance of this. In early use frequently with reference to authors, literary works, etc.
perstringement1891

Stricture; criticism.
fatwa1989–

An edict or statement issued by a religious authority belonging to a faith other than Islam. Also occasionally in colloquial or trivial use: a…
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5.

Censorship; the office or action of a censor.
1. 5.a.
  a1533–
  
  Of the ancient Roman censors (= Latin censūra): also concrete (obsolete).
  a1533
  The Censure, whoe gouerned Rome.
  Lord Berners, translation of A. de Guevara, Golden Boke of Marcus Aurelius (1546) sig. C.iij
  1598
  Plinie said to his maister Traian, the life of a Prince is a censure, that is to say, the rule, the squyre, the line, & the forme of an honest life.
  R. Barckley, Discourse of Felicitie of Man v. 513
  1856
  The censure of Camillus..was celebrated.
  C. Merivale, History of Romans under Empire vol. IV. xxxiii. 40
  1865
  The censure or prefecture of manners.
  C. Merivale, History of Romans under Empire (new edition) vol. IV. xxxv. 200
  Roman history
  the mind attention and judgement judgement or decision discernment, discrimination criticism [nouns] person engaged in office or function of in ancient Rome
  censurea1533–
  
  Censorship; the office or action of a censor. Of the ancient Roman censors (= Latin censūra): also concrete (obsolete).
  censorship1600–
  
  The office of a Roman censor (or its period).
  censureship1606–
  
  = censorship, n.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
  the mind attention and judgement judgement or decision discernment, discrimination criticism [nouns] person engaged in of public morals in ancient Rome collectively
  censurea1533–
  
  Censorship; the office or action of a censor. Of the ancient Roman censors (= Latin censūra): also concrete (obsolete).
  View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 5.b.
  1663–
  
  Of any official supervisor, e.g. of the censor of the press.
  1663
  The Clarke of the works, ought to be subject to the censure of the Surveyor.
  B. Gerbier, Counsel to Builders 48
  1887
  It is..not easy to get one's papers sent on without censure.
  Pall Mall Gazette 15 November 14/1
  society authority subjection subjecting or subjugation [nouns] suppression or repression of news or information
  censorship1591–
  
  gen. The office or function of a censor (see censor, n. 2); official supervision. spec. control of dramatic production and films (see 2b, 2e).
  censureship1606–
  
  = censorship, n.
  censure1663–
  
  Censorship; the office or action of a censor. Of any official supervisor, e.g. of the censor of the press.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
  the mind attention and judgement judgement or decision discernment, discrimination criticism [nouns] person engaged in office or function of
  censorship1591–
  
  gen. The office or function of a censor (see censor, n. 2); official supervision. spec. control of dramatic production and films (see 2b, 2e).
  censureship1606–
  
  = censorship, n.
  assize1642–75
  
  transferred. The office of judge, the action of judging, censorship. Obsolete.
  censure1663–
  
  Censorship; the office or action of a censor. Of any official supervisor, e.g. of the censor of the press.
  View in Historical Thesaurus
6.
1604–

Correction; esp. critical recension or revision of a literary work. rare.
1604
Censure, correction, or reformation.
R. Cawdrey, Table Alphabeticall
1837
So arduous a task as the thorough censure of the Vulgate text.
H. Hallam, Introduction to Literature of Europe vol. I. vi. 526
literary and textual criticism
society leisure the arts literature literary and textual criticism textual criticism [nouns] critical revision of text
review1565–

The action of looking (again) over something, as a book, text, etc., with a view to its correction or improvement; revision; an instance of this.
recognition1568–1862

The action of reviewing or revising something; revision, recension. Obsolete. rare.
censure1604–

Correction; esp. critical recension or revision of a literary work. rare.
revision1607–

The action or an act of revising something; critical or careful examination or perusal of a text, judgment, code, etc., with a view to making…
revise1641–

The action or an act of revising a text, law, etc.; revision or re-examination for the purpose of correcting or amending; an instance of this.
diorthosis1704–

The act of setting straight or in order: (a) (in Surgery) the straightening of crooked or fractured limbs; (b) the recension or revision of a…
recension1793–

The revision of a text (esp. a theological text); a particular form or version of a text resulting from such revision.
diaskeuasis1886–

Revision (of a literary work), recension.
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7.
†
1. 7.a.
  1641
  
  An assessment, a tax. Obsolete. (Cf. cense n.2)
  1641
  By reason..of extream Usage and Censures, Merchants are beggar'd.
  Sched. Grievances in J. Rushworth, Historical Collections: Third Part (1692) vol. I. 221
  economics and commerce
  society trade and finance fees and taxes impost, due, or tax tax [nouns]
  tacka1300–1578
  
  A customary payment levied by a ruler, feudal superior, or corporation. Obsolete.
  taxa1327–
  
  A compulsory contribution to the support of government, levied on persons, property, income, commodities, transactions, etc., now at fixed rates…
  tail1340–1645
  
  The individual assessment of a subsidy or tallage levied by the king or lord; a tax, impost, due, duty, or payment levied. Obsolete.
  stenta1390–
  
  The valuation or assessment of property formerly made for purposes of taxation; the amount or value assessed, tax, impost, duty. = extent, n. I.1a…
  emption1467–1642
  
  A tax, a duty; spec. one levied on the exchange of precious metals at the King's Exchange. Obsolete.
  duty1474–
  
  A payment to the public revenue levied upon the import, export, manufacture, or sale of certain commodities, the transfer of or succession to…
  stint1485–
  
  A measure, rate, gauge of amount, price, size, etc. fixed by authority. Chiefly in the phrases to set, etc. at one stint, to appoint, set a stint.
  teamc1485
  
  Understood as: a charge, tax, or duty. Obsolete.
  liverage1544
  
  A form of duty owed or service provided (sense uncertain.)
  stipend1545–
  
  A fixed periodical payment of any kind, e.g. a pension or allowance, †a tax. Also, †to keep in stipend, to defray the maintenance of.
  toust1574–1620
  
  An impost, rate levied, tax.
  sess1579–
  
  An assessment, impost. Now only dialect and in Ireland, a local rate; = cess, n.¹ 1a (which is more usual).
  cut1634–5
  
  Irish History. A levy of money, a tax, an impost: cf. cut, v. VII.35. Obsolete.
  censure1641
  
  An assessment, a tax. Obsolete. (Cf. cense, n.²)
  gild1656–1890
  
  A payment, tribute, or tax; spec. = geld, n.²
  leviation1681
  
  The levying of a tax; quasi-concrete a tax.
  levation1690
  
  concrete. Something levied; a duty, tax. Obsolete.
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2. 7.b.
  a1547–1797
  
  (See quot.) ? Obsolete.
  a1547
  Tenants having ther chyldern in howshold with theym under their governaunce and charge not to be presented for a Censur tyll tyme that they do be of full age by statute and put owte in huys from theem for wagys or otherwise to be maried then after that they be presented for censur.
  Cust. Manors Braunton (MS in possession of R. Dymond, Esq.)
  1691–1713
  T. Blount, Law Dictionary
  1729–62
  Censure, a custom called by this name, observed in divers manors in Cornwall and Devon, where all persons residing therein above the age of sixteen are cited to swear fealty to the lord, and to pay iid. per poll, and id. per ann. ever after; and these thus sworn are called censers.
  G. Jacob, New Law-dictionary
  1768
  E. Buys, New & Complete Dictionary of Terms of Art vol. I
  1797–
  T. E. Tomlins, Jacob's Law-dictionary
  economics and commerce
  society trade and finance fees and taxes impost, due, or tax tax types of tax [nouns] poll tax one who pays
  censer1458–1729
  
  One who pays or †levies cense or ‘censure’.
  censurea1547–1797
  
  (See quot.) ? Obsolete.
  View in Historical Thesaurus

Frequency

censure typically occurs about twice per million words in modern written English.

censure is in frequency band 5, which contains words occurring between 1 and 10 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

Frequency of censure, n., 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade	Frequency per million words
1750	24
1760	24
1770	27
1780	27
1790	27
1800	26
1810	26
1820	23
1830	20
1840	17
1850	14
1860	11
1870	9.3
1880	7.7
1890	6.6
1900	5.2
1910	4.4
1920	3.7
1930	3.3
1940	3.0
1950	3.0
1960	2.9
1970	2.5
1980	1.9
1990	1.6
2000	1.6
2010	1.6

Frequency of censure, n., 2017–2023

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Period	Frequency per million words
Oct.–Dec. 2017	0.62
Jan.–Mar. 2018	0.64
Apr.–June 2018	0.61
July–Sept. 2018	0.66
Oct.–Dec. 2018	0.73
Jan.–Mar. 2019	0.71
Apr.–June 2019	0.76
July–Sept. 2019	0.82
Oct.–Dec. 2019	0.75
Jan.–Mar. 2020	0.69
Apr.–June 2020	0.66
July–Sept. 2020	0.92
Oct.–Dec. 2020	0.98
Jan.–Mar. 2021	1.0
Apr.–June 2021	1.0
July–Sept. 2021	1.3
Oct.–Dec. 2021	0.91
Jan.–Mar. 2022	0.8
Apr.–June 2022	0.96
July–Sept. 2022	0.96
Oct.–Dec. 2022	0.8
Jan.–Mar. 2023	0.89

Compounds & derived words

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church censure, n. c1460–

Punishment imposed by the church, typically consisting of some form of spiritual deprivation such as excommunication or denial of Christian burial…

uncensured, adj. 1574–

(un-, prefix¹ affix 2.)

censureship, n. 1606–

= censorship, n.

miscensure, n. 1613–84

Wrongful or undeserved censure; an instance of this.

censurist, n. 1641–70

A professed or systematic censurer.

censureless, adj. a1681–

Without censure.

censural, adj. 1708–

Of or relating to assessment or valuation (see censure, n. 7).

censurate, n. 1803–

A censorial body.

re-censure, n. 1829

A censure in return.

parliament censure, n. 1904–

Personal account

censurenoun

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Frequency of censure, n., 1750–2010

Frequency of censure, n., 2017–2023

Compounds & derived words