Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Census
1.
(Bot. Antiq.)
A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; – usually made once in five years.
2.
An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country.
☞ A general census of the United States was first taken in 1790, and one has been taken at the end of every ten years since.
Webster 1828 Edition
Census
CENSUS
, n.1.
In ancient Rome, an authentic declaration made before the censors, by the citizens, of their names and places of abode. This declaration was registered, and contained an enumeration of all their lands and estates, their quantity and quality, with the wives, children, domestics, tenants, and slaves of each citizen. Hence the word signifies this enumeration or register, a mans whole substance, and the tax imposed according to each mans property.2.
In the United States of America, an-enumeration of the inhabitants of all the States, taken by order of the Congress, to furnish the rule of apportioning the representation among the States, and the number of representatives to which each State is entitled in the Congress; also, an enumeration of the inhabitants of a State, taken by order of its legislature.