Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BOWDLERIZE

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explore the archives: Samuel A. Maverick (1803-1870) wouldn't brand his cattle; today, a maverick is a nonconformist. Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) edited out all the filthy stuff from Shakespeare; today, to bowdlerize something is to purge it of anything that might offend anyone. How about Jean Martinet (unknown-1672)? What did he do? And today, what does a martinet do? And Tobias Hobson (1545-1637)? What did he do? And today, what's a Hobson's choice? make your point with... "BOWDLERIZE" To bowdlerize something is to take out all the parts that might seem shocking or offensive. This process basically kills the thing's style, humor, or entertainment value, and it can even blur the truth. Pronunciation: BOUD ler ize (the first syllable rhymes with "loud") Part of speech: Transitive verb. (Like "eat," "try," and "want," all transitive verbs do something to an object. You eat a banana, try a game, and want a new phone. Likewise, you bowdlerize something.) Other forms: bowdlerized, bowdlerizing, bowdlerization, bowdlerizer, bowdlerism How to use it: "Bowdlerize" always has a negative tone: nobody appreciated it when Thomas Bowdler took all the raunchy jokes out of Shakespeare's plays, effectively removing all the fun and messing up Shakespeare's style, and today nobody will appreciate it if you bowdlerize something--you'll seem prudish or overly sensitive. Talk about bowdlerizing an author, a book or play, an article, a historical description, a news story, a personal anecdote, a show or performance, a song or its lyrics, a work of art, and so on. Although we usually talk about bowdlerizing an entire thing, you can also say that people bowdlerize the offensive parts: either "They bowdlerized the book" or "They bowdlerized the curse words." For an adjective, use "bowdlerized:" we can talk about bowdlerized versions of things, bowdlerized jokes and quotations and excerpts, bowdlerized histories and cultures and identities. And just use a lowercase "b." You'll find it capitalized in older texts, not modern ones. examples: Her parents wouldn't let her attend sleepovers, say "gosh" or "darn," or read a Baby-Sitters Club book before they had bowdlerized it with a black Sharpie, removing every reference to Claudia's tendency to hide candy all over her room and eat it before dinner. For his admissions essay, he wrote about an eye-opening night with his friends--but it had to be a bowdlerized retelling, and it just didn't work. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "bowdlerize" means when you can explain it without saying "squeamishly edit" or "ruin by stripping away the offensive parts." try it out: Fill in the blank: "If you bowdlerize (some specific show or story that's suggestive or violent), there will be nothing left of it." Example: "If you bowdlerize Iliza Shlesinger's comedy routine, there will be nothing left of it." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. License Plate Words! You’ve spotted a cluster of three letters on a license plate. Keep all three letters together—don’t insert any letters between them—but add any letters you like to the left and/or right of the cluster to form words. For example, when you spot the cluster CKG, you can form BACKGROUND and BACKGAMMON (and all their related words, like BACKGROUNDER and BACKGAMMONING, for a total of 8 possible words). We’ll move from easy to hard clusters as the month goes on. (For the curious, you can generate a complete list of answers using a tool like this one.) Let's play! Our previous question: If you spot the cluster JOU, you can use it to form 107 words. Give yourself a minute or so. How many can you think of? Possible answers: You may have thought of ADJOURN, JOULE, JOURNAL, JOURNEY, JOUST, and/or SOJOURN. Try this today: If you spot the cluster TWE, you can use it to form 95 words. Give yourself a minute or so. How many can you think of? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of BOWDLERIZE is A. EBB B. ENLIVEN C. EXPURGATE 2. Parents and teachers _____ the district's bowdlerization of the novels, insisting that _____. A. applauded .. only by exposure to great literature in considerable quantities will their kids learn to appreciate it B. objected to .. their kids learn to appreciate real literature and learn to handle the real world C. approved of .. profanity and violence are realities to be dealt with, not shielded from Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B