bowdlerize

bowd·ler·ize

 (bōd′lə-rīz′, boud′-)

tr.v. bowd·ler·ized, bowd·ler·iz·ing, bowd·ler·iz·es

To remove material that is considered offensive or objectionable from (a book, for example); expurgate.

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[After Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825), who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare in 1818.]

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bowd′ler·ism n.

bowd′ler·i·za′tion (-lər-ĭ-zā′shən) n.

bowd′ler·iz′er n.

bowdlerize

(ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz) or

bowdlerise

vb

(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) (tr) to remove passages or words regarded as indecent from (a play, novel, etc); expurgate

[C19: after Thomas Bowdler (1754–1825), English editor who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare]

ˌbowdleriˈzation, ˌbowdleriˈsation n

ˈbowdlerˌizer, ˈbowdlerˌiser n

ˈbowdlerism n

bowd•ler•ize

(ˈboʊd ləˌraɪz, ˈbaʊd-)

v.t. -ized, -iz•ing.

to expurgate (a play, novel, or other written work) by removing or changing passages one considers vulgar or objectionable.

[1830–40; after Thomas Bowdler (1754–1825), English editor]

bowd′ler•ism, n.

bowd`ler•i•za′tion, n.

bowd′ler•iz`er, n.

bowdlerize

Past participle: bowdlerized
Gerund: bowdlerizing

Imperative

bowdlerize

bowdlerize

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

bowdlerize - edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate; "bowdlerize a novel" bowdlerise, expurgate, castrate, shorten abbreviate, abridge, foreshorten, shorten, contract, reduce, cut - reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened"

bowdlerize

verb censor, cut, clean up, blue-pencil, expurgate, sanitize She had ceased to bowdlerize her storytelling.

bowdlerize

verb

To examine (material) and remove parts considered harmful or improper for publication or transmission:

censor, expurgate, screen.

Translations

bowdlerize

[ˈbaʊdləraɪz] VT [+ book] → expurgar

bowdlerize

[ˈbaʊdləraɪz] bowdlerise (British) vt → expurger

bowdlerize

vt book → von anstößigen Stellen säubern, reinigen; a bowdlerized version → eine zensierte Ausgabe

bowdlerize

[ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz] vt → espurgare