Etymology: < -atory (in e.g. dispensatory n., salvatory n., natatory n.), ultimately reflecting classical Latin nouns ending in -ātōrium (e.g. amātōrium amatory n.) < -āt- , past participial stem of verbs in -ā- + -ōrium -ory suffix¹. Compare also Anglo-Norman words ending in -atorie , and Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French nouns ending in -atoire . Compare also classical Latin nouns ending in -ātōria (e.g. ōrātōria oratory n.²).A small number of formations within English are found in the 17th cent., e.g. amusatory n., perfumatory n.

Etymology: < -atory (in e.g. accusatory adj., obligatory adj., consolatory adj.), ultimately reflecting classical Latin -ātōrius (in e.g. accūsātōrius ) < -āt- , past participial stem of verbs in -ā- + -ōrius -ory suffix².Formations are found from the 16th cent., e.g. relaxatory adj., absolvatory adj., civilizatory adj. Some formations, such as recommendatory adj., show adaptations of Middle French or French adjectives in -atoire.