Bowdlerizing: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
bowdlerizing
[ หbaสdlษraษชzษชล ]
censorship action
To bowdlerize means to remove or alter parts of a text that are considered offensive or inappropriate, often in an effort to make the material more suitable for a particular audience. This term originated from the actions of Thomas Bowdler, who published an expurgated version of Shakespeare's works.
Synonyms
censor, edit, expurgate, remove, sanitize.
Examples of usage
- The editor decided to bowdlerize the novel before its publication.
- Many classic stories have been bowdlerized for children's literature.
- The film was bowdlerized to avoid controversy.
- Critics argue that bowdlerizing literature undermines the original author's intent.
Translations
Translations of the word "bowdlerizing" in other languages:
๐ต๐น censurar
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเคเคธเคพเคงเคฟเคค เคเคฐเคจเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช zensieren
๐ฎ๐ฉ menyensor
๐บ๐ฆ ัะตะฝะทัััะฒะฐัะธ
๐ต๐ฑ cenzurowaฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ๆค้ฒใใ
๐ซ๐ท censurer
๐ช๐ธ censurar
๐น๐ท sansรผrlemek
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ฒ์ดํ๋ค
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฑูุงุจุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ cenzurovat
๐ธ๐ฐ cenzurovaลฅ
๐จ๐ณ ๅฎกๆฅ
๐ธ๐ฎ cenzurirati
๐ฎ๐ธ ritsko
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะตะฝะทััะฐะปะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แชแแแแฃแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ sensura
๐ฒ๐ฝ censurar
Etymology
The term 'bowdlerize' derives from the name of Thomas Bowdler, an English physician and editor who lived from 1754 to 1825. He is best known for his work on 'The Family Shakespeare', where he removed or altered passages in William Shakespeare's plays that he deemed unsuitable for women and children. The word was first used in the early 19th century and quickly gained traction as a way to describe the act of censoring or modifying texts to make them more acceptable to a broader audience. Bowdler's efforts were often criticized for stripping works of their original meaning and richness, leading to ongoing debates about censorship in literature and the arts. The practice of bowdlerizing texts continues in various forms today, particularly in adaptations for younger audiences.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #42,873, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.