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Comstockery

[ kuhm-stok-uh-ree, kom- ]

noun

  1. overzealous moral censorship of the fine arts and literature, often mistaking outspokenly honest works for salacious ones.


comstockery

/ ˈkɒm-; ˈkʌmˌstɒkərɪ /

noun

  1. immoderate censorship on grounds of immorality


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Other Words From

  • Comstocker noun
  • Com·stocki·an adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Comstockery1

First recorded in 1895–1900; after A. Comstock ( def ) + -ery

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Comstockery1

C20: coined by G. B. Shaw (1905) after Anthony Comstock (1844–1915), US moral crusader, who founded the Society for the Suppression of Vice

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Example Sentences

"Trilby" is assaulted by the united comstockery of a dozen cities, and "The Yoke" somehow escapes.

His chapters on the psychology of war hysteria and of comstockery are acute and constructive.

There it is in a few words—a complete and perfect treatise on Comstockery!

It is no exaggeration to say that Comstockery is the arch enemy of society.

Is Comstockery to be our best expression of the most vital matter of existence?

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