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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

bowdlerize

Past participle: bowdlerized
Gerund: bowdlerizing

Imperative

bowdlerize

bowdlerize

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

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"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

bowdlerize

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

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

bowdlerize

verb

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

censor, expurgate, screen.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

bowdlerize

[ˈbaʊdləraɪz] VT [+ book] → expurgar

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

bowdlerize

[ˈbaʊdləraɪz] bowdlerise (British) vt → expurger

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

bowdlerize

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

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

bowdlerize

[ˈbaʊdləˌraɪz] vt → espurgare

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995