v. [(1) f. L. ēdit-us, pa. pple. of ēdĕre to put forth, f. ē out + dăre to put, give; (2) back-formation from EDITOR.]
† 1. To publish, give to the world (a literary work by an earlier author, previously existing in MS.). Chiefly in pa. pple. after L. ēditus. Obs.
1791. Enfield, trans. Brucker’s Hist. Philos., II. 367. He [Abelard] wrote many philosophical treatises, which have never been edited.
2. a. To prepare an edition of (a literary work or works by an earlier author); so with the name of the author as obj., e.g., ‘to edit Horace, Shakespeare,’ etc. b. To prepare, set in order for publication (literary material that is wholly or in part the work of others). Sometimes euphemistically for: To garble, ‘cook’ (e.g., a war-correspondent’s dispatch, etc.). c. To be or act as the Editor of (a newspaper or other periodical).
1793. V. Knox, Lett. to Yng. Nobleman, x. 53 (R.). Read … the few orations of Demosthenes which Mounteney has edited.
1835. Dickens, Lett. (1880), I. 3. To write and edit a new publication.
1880. E. White, Cert. Relig., 72. The progress of science and art in editing from ancient manuscripts.
1885. Harper’s Mag., March, 647/2. It has not been guilty of the petty and futile folly of attempting to ‘edit’ the news.
Hence Edited ppl. a.
Mod. A carefully edited work.
