-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 .
-atory
suffix
of, relating to, characterized by, or serving to circulatory, exploratory, migratory, explanatory
word origin
from latin -ātōrius; see -ate1, -ory²
Read Also:
- -bacter
a combining form with the meaning “rod,” used primarily in biology to form generic names of bacteria: aerobacter; arthrobacter.
- -ball
-ball combining word a person who is obnoxious or strange because of what is indicated: oddball/ goofball/ dirtball/ dizzball/ sleazeball baseball of a specified sort: billyball/ greedball [1970s+; first sense probably fr 1930s screwball, ”eccentric person,” fr late 1920s name of a baseball pitch, suggesting screwy, ”crazy, eccentric”; second sense fr the kind of baseball […]
- -basher
-basher combining word a person who har-sses or beats the person or item indicated: j-pan-basher/ f-g-basher/ honkybasher (1880s+ british)
- -bashing
combining form, combining form (informal) indicating a malicious attack on members of a particular group queer-bashing, union-bashing indicating any of various other activities bible-bashing, spud-bashing, square-bashing derived forms -basher, combining_form:in_noun:countable -bashing combining word hating and attacking what or who is indicated: bush-bashing/ f-ggot-bashing/ geezer-bashing/ gringo-bashing/ paki-bashing (esp since late 1950s+)
- -biosis
a combining form meaning “mode of life,” used in the formation of compound words: aerobiosis; parabiosis. -biosis combining form indicating a specified mode of life symbiosis derived forms -biotic, combining_form:in_adjective word origin new latin, from greek biōsis; see bio-, -osis -biosis suff. a way of living: parabiosis.