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custos morum

American  
[koos-tohs moh-room, kuhs-tos mawr-uhm, mohr-] / ˈkʊs toʊs ˈmoʊ rʊm, ˈkʌs tɒs ˈmɔr əm, ˈmoʊr- /

noun

Latin.

plural

custodes morum

  1. a custodian or guardian of morals; censor.

Etymology

Origin of custos morum

Literally, “guardian of established usages, laws, etc.”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

By the unphilosophic regarded as akin to vermin, existing for the greater confusion of theologians, the small boy looms large to the man of insight, as the true conservator of custom—the one efficient custos morum.

From Without Prejudice by Zangwill, Israel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.