propitiatory

[pruh-pish-ee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

See more synonyms for propitiatory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

serving or intended to propitiate.
making propitiation; conciliatory.

noun

mercy seat.

Origin of propitiatory

1275–1325; (noun) Middle English propiciatori the mercy seat < Late Latin propitiātōrium (see propitiate, -tory²); (adj.) < Late Latin propitiātōrius (see -tory¹)

Related formspro·pi·ti·a·to·ri·ly, adverbun·pro·pi·ti·a·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for propitiatory

regretful, conciliatory, repentant, contrite, sorry, remorseful, propitiatory, divine, expiatory, lustral, purgatorial, conciliative, expiable, compunctious, explanatory, penitent, penitential, rueful, self-effacing

Examples from the Web for propitiatory

Historical Examples of propitiatory

You see I have not forgotten the custom to bring some propitiatory sacrifice.
The Elm Tree Tales
F. Irene Burge Smith
Like many a man before him and after, Smith casts about for a propitiatory wonder.
Pioneers of the Old South
Mary Johnston
"I bought a book," he said, handing her the propitiatory volume.
The Rainbow
D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
They are used by the Nambūtiri in propitiatory ceremonies to that god.
Castes and Tribes of Southern India
Edgar Thurston
He spoke in his most propitiatory tones, but the committee was still stirred.
The Candidate
Joseph Alexander Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for propitiatory

propitiatory

adjective

designed or intended to propitiate; conciliatory; expiatory

noun

the mercy seat

Derived Formspropitiatorily, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for propitiatory

c.1300 (n.) "the mercy seat," from Late Latin propitiatorium (translating Greek hilasterion in Bible); noun use of neuter singular of propitiatorius "atoning, reconciling," from propitiatus, past participle of propitiare (see propitiation). As an adjective in English from 1550s.