-tory

¹ American  

1. a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, originally adjectival derivatives of agent nouns ending in -tor (predatory ); also forming adjectival derivatives directly from verbs (obligatory; transitory ).

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Tory ² American  

[tawr-ee, tohr-ee] / ˈtɔr i, ˈtoʊr i /

noun

plural

Tories

1. a member of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada.

2. a member of a political party in Great Britain from the late 17th century to about 1832 that favored royal authority over Parliament and the preservation of the existing social and political order: succeeded by the Conservative party.

3. (often lowercase) an advocate of conservative principles; one opposed to reform or radicalism.

4. a person who supported the British cause in the American Revolution; a loyalist.

5. (in the 17th century) a dispossessed Irishman who resorted to banditry, especially after the invasion of Oliver Cromwell and suppression of the royalist cause (1649–52).

6. a male or female given name.

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adjective

1. of, belonging to, or characteristic of the Tories.

2. being a Tory.

3. (sometimes lowercase) opposed to reform or radicalism; conservative.

-tory ³ American  

1. a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, usually derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tor or directly from verbs, denoting a place or object appropriate for the activity of the verb: dormitory; repository .

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Tory British  

/ ˈtɔːrɪ /

noun

1. a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada

2. a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s

3. an American supporter of the British cause; loyalist Compare Whig

4. (sometimes not capital) an ultraconservative or reactionary

5. (in the 17th century) an Irish Roman Catholic, esp an outlaw who preyed upon English settlers

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adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to Tories

2. (sometimes not capital) ultraconservative or reactionary

Other Word Forms

• Toryish adjective
• Toryism noun

Etymology

Origin of -tory¹

< Latin -tōrius, equivalent to -tōr- -tor + -ius adj. suffix

Origin of Tory¹

1640–50; < Irish *tóraighe outlaw, bandit, derivative of tóir chase, pursuit

Origin of -tory¹

< Latin -tōrium, noun use of neuter of -tōrius -tory ¹

Example Sentences

“The Tory Party would suit me just fine,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal

Justice Minister Jack Richards said it was "indefensible" for him to retain his position on the Tory frontbench while also representing Mr Abramovich, arguing it risked a conflict of interest.

From BBC

Blue Origin has added Tory Bruno to its roster to lead a new division focused on national security programs.

From MarketWatch

However, leader Kemi Badenoch has indicated she would would not stand in the way of Tory councils requesting a postponement.

From BBC

She was made a peer by Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015, but took a leave of absence and lost the Tory whip following the PPE revelations.

From BBC

Related Words

• archconservative
• counterrevolutionary
• regressive
• rightist
• ultraconservative