custos

[ kuhs-tos; Latin koo s-tohs ]

/ ˈkʌs tɒs; Latin ˈkʊs toʊs /

noun, plural cus·to·des [kuh-stoh-deez; Latin koo s-toh-des] /kʌˈstoʊ diz; Latin kʊsˈtoʊ dɛs/.

(italics) Latin. a custodian.

a superior in the Franciscan order.

Nearby words

Origin of custos

1425–75; late Middle English < Medieval Latin

custos morum

[ koo s-tohs moh-roo m; English kuhs-tos mawr-uh m, mohr- ]

/ ˈkʊs toʊs ˈmoʊ rʊm; English ˈkʌs tɒs ˈmɔr əm, ˈmoʊr- /

noun, plural cus·to·des mo·rum [koo s-toh-des moh-roo m; English kuh-stoh-deez mawr-uh m, mohr-] /kʊsˈtoʊ dɛs ˈmoʊ rʊm; English kʌˈstoʊ diz ˈmɔr əm, ˈmoʊr-/. Latin.

a custodian or guardian of morals; censor.

Origin of custos morum

literally, guardian of established usages, laws, etc.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for custos

From what I could gather from the 'Custos,' I should say that they are now but little frequented.
Herzegovina|George Arbuthnot
This chapel or college had a custos, seven chaplains, three clerks, and four choristers.
The Survey of London|John Stow
In 1326 the custos of Minchin Barrow was told to remove the onerosa familia.
Medieval English Nunneries c. 1275 to 1535|Eileen Edna Power
Added to this, the Custos, not very well on leaving home, had been getting worse every hour.
The Maroon|Mayne Reid

The Custos read it all over slowly and carefully, weighing every word.
No Defense, Complete|Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for custos

custos

/ (ˈkʌstɒs) /

noun plural custodes (kʌˈstəʊdiːz)

a superior in the Franciscan religious orderAlso called (in England): guardian

Word Origin for custos

C15: from Latin: keeper, guard

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012