▪ I. purificatory, n.
(ˈpjʊərɪfɪˌkeɪtərɪ)
[ad. med.L. pūrificātōrium, subst. use of neut. of late L. pūrificātōrius: see next and -ory1.]
= prec. 1.
| 1670 Blount Glossogr. (ed. 3), Purificatory, the little linen cloth with which the Priest wipes the Chalice. 1885 Cath. Dict. (ed. 3), Mundatory or Purificatory, a cloth of linen or hemp..used for cleansing the chalice. |
▪ II. ˈpurificatory, a.
[ad. late L. pūrificātōrius adj. (c 375 in Ambrose) cleansing, f. ppl. stem of L. pūrificāre to purify: see -ory.]
Having the quality of purifying; tending to purification.
| 1610 Healey St. Aug. Citie of God xxi. xvi. 856 If he be washed in the fountaine of regeneration..he is..freed from all paynes, eternall and purificatory. 1837 Whewell Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857) I. 220 His vertues are arranged as physical, moral, purificatory, theoretic, and theurgic. 1881 Monier-Williams in 19th Cent. Mar. 511 For use in purificatory ceremonies. 1882 Westcott in Dict. Chr. Biog. (1887) IV. 139/2 A vast scheme of purificatory chastisement. |