A.Word.A.Day --custos morum

A.Word.A.Day

Home

Sep 28, 2010

This week's theme
Words related to censorship

This week's words
fatwa
custos morum
excommunicate
euphemism
samizdat

Works based on AWAD
An ongoing soap opera, haiku, limericks & more

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

PRONUNCIATION:

(KOOS-tohs MOH-room, -ruhm)

MEANING:

noun: A guardian of morals; censor.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin custos morum (guardian of morals, laws, etc.).

USAGE:

"A self-righteous soul can identify himself as custos morum."
William Safire; Delicious Delicto; The New York Times; Mar 30, 1986.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

No iron spike can pierce a human heart as icily as a period in the right place. -Isaac Babel, author (1894-1940)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate