Definition

1. Verb:
   • To remove or alter parts of a written work considered offensive, obscene, or otherwise objectionable: "expurgate" means to cleanse a text by deleting or modifying passages deemed inappropriate, often to make it suitable for a particular audience.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The publisher decided to expurgate the controversial chapter before releasing the book to schools.
  • Early editions of the novel were heavily expurgated to comply with the moral standards of the time.
  • The editor was asked to expurgate the manuscript of any libelous statements.

Advanced Usage

• "Expurgated edition/version": A published version of a text from which objectionable material has been removed.
  • The library only carries the expurgated edition of the author's memoirs.
• Concept of Expurgation: The act or practice of expurgating is often discussed in contexts of censorship, literary history, and editorial policy.

Variants and Related Words

• Expurgation (n): The act of expurgating.
  • The expurgation of the text altered its original tone significantly.
• Expurgator (n): A person who expurgates.
  • The expurgator worked meticulously through the ancient manuscript.

Synonyms

• Bowdlerize: To remove material considered improper or offensive from a text, named after Thomas Bowdler.
• Censor: To examine and suppress parts considered objectionable.
• Purge: To remove unwanted elements thoroughly.
• Clean up: (Informal) To remove offensive content.

Antonyms

• Unabridged: Complete and containing all original material, not shortened.
• Uncensored: Not having had any content suppressed or altered.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "To expurgate from": To remove specific material from a text.
  • The committee voted to expurgate the graphic descriptions from the report.
• The term is closely associated with the concept of "bowdlerization," which specifically refers to prudish expurgation of literature.

Verb

1. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
   • bowdlerize a novel