-atory

1. a combination of -ate ¹ and -ory ¹ or -ory ², used infrequently as an independent suffix with the same senses as -ory ¹ and -ory ²: affirmatory; observatory .

-atory

suffix forming adjectives

1. of, relating to, characterized by, or serving to

   explanatory

   exploratory

   circulatory

   migratory

Word History and Origins

Origin of -atory¹

< Latin -ātōrius, -a, -um, originally the termination of adjectives formed with -tōrius ( -tory ¹, -tory ² ) and verbs whose stems ended in -ā-; reanalyzed in English in the same way as -ator

Word History and Origins

Origin of -atory¹

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