nihil obstat

[nahy-hil ob-stat, nee-]

noun Roman Catholic Church.

permission to publish a book, granted by an official censor who, upon examining it, has certified that it contains nothing contrary to faith or morals.

Origin of nihil obstat

1885–90; < Latin: literally, nothing stands in the way

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for nihil obstat

nihil obstat

the phrase used by a Roman Catholic censor to declare publication inoffensive to faith or morals

Word Origin for nihil obstat

Latin, literally: nothing hinders

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