-ory

English - English

Definition of -ory in English English dictionary

of or pertaining to; adjective suffix appended to various words, often nouns but also verbs, to make an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also

excrete and excretory, sense and sensory, statute and statutory.

Related Terms

ory

A noun suffix denoting that which pertains to, or serves for; as in ambulatory, that which serves for walking; consistory, factory, etc

ory

An adjective suffix meaning of or pertaining to, serving for; as in auditory, pertaining to or serving for hearing; prohibitory, amendatory, etc

Synonyms

-al, -ar, -ary, -ese, -ic, -id, -ish, -like, -oid, -ous, -y

Etymology

() From Middle English -orie, from Latin adjective suffix -tōrius.“” in The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.