‖ nihil obstat
(ˈn(a)ɪhɪl ˈɒbstæt)
[Lat., ‘nothing stands in the way’.]
Words appearing on the title-page or elsewhere in the preliminary pages of a Roman Catholic work indicating that it has been approved as free of doctrinal or moral error. Also fig.
| 1886 in P. Soulier Life St. Philip Benizi p. iv, Nihil obstat: Guglielmus T. Gordon, Congr. Orat. Presbyter. 1932 J. L. Stocks in Hibbert Jrnl. XXX. 622 He loves beauty, he admires character, he feels the thrill of poetry and art. He believes in God. For all this the utmost that he can get out of science is a nihil obstat. 1933 Times Lit. Suppl. 21 Dec. 904/2 The selection [of anthems] carries with it the nihil obstat of two such eminent Church musicians as Sir Walford Davies and Dr. Henry Ley. 1938 Mind XLVII. 93 The parallel to the Nihil Obstat of Roman Catholic censorship is obvious. 1955 Times 6 July 11/4 Authoritarians wish that one dictionary enjoyed dictatorial rights. Reference to it then would finally close any argument; its nihil obstat would give the green light to imprimatur. 1958 Spectator 22 Aug. 260/1 This is a lucid, judicious book, with a ‘Nihil obstat’ discreetly tucked away in the title pages. 1973 Times 11 Aug. 2/8 Mgr. Guazzelli said: ‘The nihil obstat and the imprimatur were duly signed, and the censor and myself, as the responsible bishop, acknowledge this fact.’ |