commemorative, a. and n.
(kəˈmɛmərətɪv)
[f. commemorate + -ive. Cf. F. commémoratif.]
A. adj. Having the attribute of commemorating.
| 1612–9 T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 14 The Popish distinction of oblation primary and commemoratiue confuted. a 1638 Mede Wks. ii. ix. 376 If..the Eucharist be..a Commemorative Sacrifice of Christ. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. viii. 266 A commemorative chapel. |
b. Const. of.
| 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxxi. 192 Commemorative of benefits. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. i. 223 In Kew Gardens there is a sun-dial commemorative of this discovery. |
c. Med. (See quot.)
| 1882 Syd. Soc. Lex., Commemorative circumstances, past events having a direct bearing on the diagnosis and nature of disease. Commemorative signs, the points of evidence which are legibly written on the patient..and which enable the nature of a previous disease to be recognised. |
B. n. A means of commemoration. rare.
| 1636 R. Brathwait Lives Roman Emp. 18 Commemoratives of his detestable cruelty and other vices. 1649 Roberts Clavis Bibl. 31 A Commemorative of that wonderfull deliverance. 1669 Gale Crt. Gentiles ii. viii. 110 Commemoratives of some Divine presence. |
Hence commemoratively adv., in a commemorative manner, by way of commemoration. commemorativeness, commemorative quality.
| 1633 Ames Agst. Cerem. ii. 291 Commemoratively or recordatively. a 1638 Mede Wks. ii. ix. 376 Christ is offered in this Sacred Supper..Commemoratively only. 1816 G. S. Faber Orig. Pagan Idol. I. 57 The events of the deluge were commemoratively inscribed on the heavens. 1826 ― Diff. Romanism (1853) 292 The consecrated elements..were deemed a sacrifice only on the ground of figurativeness and Commemorativeness. |