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View synonyms for expiatory

expiatory

[ ek-spee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

  1. able to make atonement or expiation; offered by way of expiation:

    expiatory sacrifices.



expiatory

/ ˈɛkspɪətərɪ; -trɪ /

adjective

  1. capable of making expiation
  2. given or offered in expiation


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Other Words From

  • non·expi·a·tory adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of expiatory1

1540–50; < Late Latin expiātōrius, equivalent to expiā ( re ) ( expiate ) + -tōrius -tory 1

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Example Sentences

Where, on the other hand, the victim is a fellow tribesman, the sacrifice is expiatory or piacular.

And, third, Are his sufferings expiatory—the meritorious cause of human salvation?

He came in one morning, after he had concluded his suspicions were wrong, and made a sort of expiatory call.

A great expiatory sacrifice succeeded in finally calming him.

Piacular, pī-ak′ū-lar, adj. serving to appease, expiatory: requiring expiation: atrociously bad.

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inveterate

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expiationexpiration