Cense
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A census. obsolete
"[I]n the year 1636, King Charles ſending to the Lord Mayor [of London], to make a ſcrutiny, vvhat number of Roman Catholiques and ſtrangers, there vvere in the City, he took occaſion thereby, to make a Cenſe of all the people; and there vvere of Men, VVomen, and Children, above ſeven hundred thouſand that lived vvithin the Barres of his juriſdiction alone; […]"
- 2 A public rate or tax. obsolete
"as moneys a sum in name of a cense so returned"
- 3 condition; rank obsolete
"if you write to a man, whose estate and cense as senses, you are familiar with, you may the bolder (to let a taske to his braine) venter on a knot"
- 1 To perfume with incense.
"The Salii sing and 'cense his altars round."
- 2 perfume especially with a censer wordnet
Example
More examples"The Salii sing and 'cense his altars round."
Etymology
Backformation from incense
Old French cense, French cens, Latin census.