the act by which books were recommended or declared harmless by persons authorized to judge of them. The Council of Trent (sess. 4) forbids, on penalty of excommunication, the publication of books without the approbation of the bishop of the diocese. In England the right of approbation formerly belonged to those who were appointed to grant licenses and imprimaturs. By an act of Charles II, long since expired, books were subjected to a licenser in England, and the practice itself ceased with the introduction of the principles of the Revolution of 1688. See INDEX.