01 v. t. To expurgate, as a book, by omitting or modifying the parts considered offensive; to remove morally objectionable parts; -- said of literar…
imp. & p. p.
Bowdlerized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bowdlerizing
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1.
To expurgate, as a book, by omitting or modifying the parts considered offensive; to remove morally objectionable parts; -- said of literary texts.“It is a grave defect in the splendid tale of Tom Jones . . . that a Bowdlerized version of it would be hardly intelligible as a tale.” — F. Harrison.
Syn.
bowdlerise, expurgate, shorten, cut.