Index Librorum Prohibitorum

[ in-deks-lahy-brawr-uhm proh-hib-i-tawr-uhm, lee- ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural In·di·ces Li·bro·rum Pro·hib·i·to·rum [in, -d, uh, -seez lahy-, brawr, -, uh, m proh-hib-i-, tawr, -, uh, m, lee-].

1. a list of books forbidden to be read except from expurgated editions or by special permission.

Index Librorum Prohibitorum

/ ˈɪndɛks laɪˈbrɔːrʊm prəʊˌhɪbɪˈtɔːrʊm /

noun

1. RC Church (formerly) an official list of proscribed books Often calledthe Index

Word History and Origins

Origin of Index Librorum Prohibitorum¹

< New Latin: index of prohibited books

Word History and Origins

Origin of Index Librorum Prohibitorum¹

C17, literally: list of forbidden books

Example Sentences

The first version of the Index librorum prohibitorum, the list of books banned by the Catholic Church, came out in 1559, and it did not mince words about ‘licentious’ books.

From Nature

Church, an authoritative list of books only to be read in expurgated editions; Index Librorum Expurgandorum, or Index Librorum Prohibitorum, an official list of books which the faithful are absolutely forbidden to read at all under pain of instant excommunication; Index rerum, an index of subjects; Index verborum, an index of words.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1530 Florence was definitely handed over to the Medici; in 1535 the duchy of Milan was annexed to Spain; in 1540 the Pope sanctioned the Order of Jesus; in 1542 he established the Holy Office in Rome; in 1543 he accepted the scheme of an Index Librorum Prohibitorum; and in 1545 the Council of Trent was opened.

From Project Gutenberg

Freedom of thought was vigorously attacked; and the Index Librorum Prohibitorum was decreed.

From Project Gutenberg

Started by Pope St. Gelasius in the 5th century, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum today generally condemns books on religion not approved by Catholic authorities and books "against faith and morals," including all Communist books.

From Time Magazine Archive