Bowdlerize is a verb that means to expurgate by omit parts considered vulgar. Our word of the day’s origin begins with a 19th century English physician named Thomas Bowdler. In 1818, Bowdler published a book called “Family Shakespeare” with the intention of omitting “those words which cannot with propriety be read aloud in a family.” The book was successful with the general public, but literary and theatre critics weren’t as happy with what he’d done to The Bard’s work. It didn’t take long for the word bowdlerize to enter English as a way of describing the doctor’s act. In fact, it appeared prior to his death in 1825. I really hope the producers don’t bowdlerize my writing. Omitting vulgar words from it would seriously harm my artistic intentions.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related