▪ I. censer, n.1
(ˈsɛnsə(r))
Forms: 4–5 censere, 4–6 senser, sencer, 5 censour, censare, senscer, sensure, 5–6 censure, 6 censar, senssour, 6–7 sensor, 7–8 censor, 4– censer.
[In sense 1, a. OF. censier (senser), shortened from encensier encenser:—L. type incensārium, f. incens-um incense. (Mod.F. has encensoir:—L. type incensōrium.) In Eng. the word would coincide with an agent-noun from cense v. = F. encenseur.]
1. A vessel in which incense is burnt; a thurible.
| a 1250 Meid Maregrete lxxv, Cherubim ant serafin..Mid tapres ant mid sensers. 1382 Wyclif Rev. viii. 3 Another aungel..hauynge a golden censer. c 1386 [see cense v.1 1]. 1449 Churchw. Acc. St. George, Stamford (Nichols 1797) 132 To the said chirch I bequethe a peyre of censours of sylver..for frankincense. 1483 Cath. Angl. 330 A Sensure, batillus, thuribulum. 1552–3 Inv. Ch. Goods Staffs. in Ann. Lichfield IV. 5 A sensor of brasse. 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 17 The Prieste taketh his senser with burning coles. 1584 Fenner Def. Ministers (1587) 97 Though he haue no censure, no odours. a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. i. xi. §4 (1662) 116 Who maketh..his Caldron, his Sensor. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 24 Prayers..in this Golden Censer, mixt With Incense. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xxxvii. 146 Four fair slaves..with Silver Censers in their hands. 1842 Tennyson Sir Galahad iii, The shrill bell rings, the censer swings, And solemn chaunts resound between. 1888 Church Times 8 June 507 Then let the priest receive the Censer from the Gospeller. |
| fig. 1871 Macduff Mem. Patmos xviii. 242 The flower..was swinging its tiny censers with their fragrant perfumes. |
b. app. = cassolette. (The commentators are not agreed as to what exactly is referred to.)
| 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iv. iii. 91 Heers snip, and nip, and cut, and slish and slash, Like to a Censor in a barbers shoppe. 1597 ― 2 Hen. IV, v. iv. 20. |
2. One who perfumes with incense.
| 1670 Cotton Espernon iii. xii. 617 The Censor was soon aware of the accident. |
3. Comb., as censer-box, censer-pot; censerless adj.
| 1611 Coryat Crudities 229 The Priest's Clarke..perfumeth the people with his Censor-boxe. 1827 W. G. S. Excurs. Village Curate 142 No incense now breathed over its censerless altar. 1870 Disraeli Lothair xlvi. 246 If Popery were only just the sign of the cross, and music, and censer-pots..I'd be free to leave them alone. |
▪ II. † censer n.2 Obs.
[f. cense n.2 + -er: cf. censure 7 b; and Censarii, villeins paying cense, in Domesday, and in Du Cange from various sources.]
One who pays cense or ‘censure’.
| 1691–1713 Blount Law Dict. s.v. Censure, in divers Manors in Cornwall and Devon, the calling of all Resiants therein above the Age of sixteen, to swear Fealty to the Lord, to pay iid per Poll, and id per. An. ever after, as Cert-money or Common Fine: and these thus sworn are called Censers. [1729– See censure n. 7 b.] |
▪ III. † censer, v. Obs. rare—1.
In 7 censor.
[f. prec. n.]
= cense v.1 2.
| 1625 Purchas Pilgrimes ii. 1416 The Priest went round about the Altar three times. The first time hee censored. |
▪ IV. censer
obs. form of censure.