Censure
/ˈsɛn.ʃər/noun
Official criticism or strong disapproval of someone or something.
Did you know?Censure comes from Latin *censura*, the office of the Roman *censor*—the official who assessed citizens, monitored morals, and could shame you publicly for failing the state’s standards.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kens-
“to proclaim, assess, or declare publicly”
Latin
Latin
censēre
“to assess, value, judge, or give an opinion”
Latin
Latin
cēnsūra
“an assessment; the office and duty of a Roman censor”
Old French
Old French
censurer
“to blame, condemn, or criticize officially”
Middle English
English
censuren
“to condemn or reprimand”
Modern English
English
censure
“official strong criticism or formal disapproval”