corrector

plural correctors · alternative obsolete correctour

1. One who corrects.

   Wisdom is not the most severe corrector of folly.

   1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], →OCLC

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   Time! the corrector where our judgments err, The test of truth, love,—sole philosopher, For all beside are sophists, […]

   1812–1818, Lord Byron, “(please specify |canto=I to IV)”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. , London: John Murray,, stanza [HTTP://WWW.GUTENBERG.ORG/FILES/5131/5131-H/5131-H.HTM 130]

   A family we knew had one of those “Papa's-sister” Aunts who took it upon herself to be a corrector of manners not only for her own nieces but for young Canadians in general.

   1942, Emily Carr, “Characters”, in The Book of Small, Toronto, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC

2. obsoleteA proofreader.

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   Seeing therefore those who now possess the employment by all evident signs wish themselves well rid of it; and that no man of worth, none that is not a plain unthrift of his own hours, is ever likely to succeed them, except he mean to put himself to the salary of a press corrector; we may easily foresee what kind of licensers we are to expect hereafter, either ignorant, imperious, and remiss, or basely pecuniary.

   1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC

   To have a competent knowledge of what has been recited, besides a quick and discerning eye, are the proper accomplishments by which a Corrector may raise his own and his Master's credit: for it is a maxim with Booksellers, to give the first edition of a work to be done by such Printers whom they know to be either able Correctors themselves, or that employ fit persons, though not of Universal learning, and who know the fundamentals of every Art and Science that may fall under their examination.

   1770, Philip Luckombe, A Concise History of the Origin and Progress of Printing, London: J. Johnson, published 1771, pages 440–41

3. obsoleteA director or governor.