Question

Identify the option which is the correct meaning of the word:
Bowdlerise

a) To take out words that might be considered improper
b) Give firmness to
c) Use unnecessary strength
d) Cut into two or more separate parts

Answer 1

Hint: The given word, bowdlerise, is an adjective, whose synonyms are to censor and to edit. It is used in a sentence like: ‘ I have no wish to bowdlerise Dr. Ben.’

Complete answer:
 In questions like these where we have to find out the meaning of a given word, if in case we are not able to recall the exact meaning of the word, we can either move ahead by framing sentences by the word given or going through the hint and the options provided.

Option ‘a’ means to devoid a text of certain words that do not fit essentially with the text. We can clearly understand that this option is quite similar to the task of editing.

Option b, ‘to give firmness to’, is nowhere around the synonyms of the given word, as it means to make something concrete, hence this is an incorrect option.

Option c, sounds more like the meaning of the word bullying, i.e. to use unnecessary strength, therefore, it is also the incorrect answer.

Two cut into two or more separate parts is simply division or cutting and can not be the meaning of the word in the question as it means something like editing or censoring. Hence option d is also incorrect.

Therefore, from the above explanations, we can deduce that, option ‘a’ is the correct answer for the given question.

Note:
Make sure to read all options given in the question even if you think that the first option is the correct answer.