-atory

a combination of -ate1 and -ory1 or -ory2, used infrequently as an independent suffix with the same senses as -ory1 and -ory2: affirmatory; observatory.

Origin of -atory

< Latin -ātōrius, -a, -um, orig. the termination of adjectives formed with -tōrius (see -tory1, -tory2) and verbs whose stems ended in -ā-; reanalyzed in English in the same way as -ator

Words nearby -atory

-athon, -atic, -ation, -ative, -ator, -atory, -bacter, -bashing, -biont, -biosis, -blast

British Dictionary definitions for -atory

-atory

suffix forming adjectives

of, relating to, characterized by, or serving to circulatory; exploratory; migratory; explanatory

Word Origin for -atory

from Latin -ātōrius; see -ate 1, -ory ²