Censor

a public official whose permission must be obtained to issue a newspaper, book, or other printed matter. During the Middle Ages officials of the church, particularly the bishops, acted as censors of manuscripts. Even with the Reformation the practice was not at once abandoned in Protestant countries. The censorship was not abolished in England until 1693. At the present time a mild censorship is maintained in Germany. A very rigorous oversight is kept up in Russia. Otherwise freedom of the press prevails throughout Europe and in all civilized countries. Libel, treason, and other objectionable matters are, of course, forbidden by law. The term is derived from an old Roman office. The Roman censors were charged at first with the duties of our present assessors. By degrees they were empowered to direct people's customs and morals. They prescribed what ought to be worn and what ought not to be worn, and were even able to expel a senator from his seat for wrong-doing.