expiatory

[ ek-spee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. able to make atonement or expiation; offered by way of expiation:

   expiatory sacrifices.

expiatory

/ -trɪ; ˈɛkspɪətərɪ /

adjective

1. capable of making expiation
2. given or offered in expiation

Other Words From

• non·expi·a·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of expiatory¹

1540–50; < Late Latin expiātōrius, equivalent to expiā ( re ) ( expiate ) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

Where, on the other hand, the victim is a fellow tribesman, the sacrifice is expiatory or piacular.

From Project Gutenberg

And, third, Are his sufferings expiatory—the meritorious cause of human salvation?

From Project Gutenberg

He came in one morning, after he had concluded his suspicions were wrong, and made a sort of expiatory call.

From Project Gutenberg

A great expiatory sacrifice succeeded in finally calming him.

From Project Gutenberg

Piacular, pī-ak′ū-lar, adj. serving to appease, expiatory: requiring expiation: atrociously bad.

From Project Gutenberg