dimissoryadj.n.
/ˈdɪmɪsəri/ A. adj.† 1. Pertaining to dismission or leave-taking; dismissory; valedictory. Obsolete in gen. sense. (In quot. 1650, figurative from A. 2.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > [adjective] > of or relating to sending away or dismissal
dimissory1581
dismissive1645
dismissing1802
society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > ordination > [adjective] > of letters
reverential1549
dimissory1581
dismissory1647
1581 J. Marbeck Bk. Notes & Common Places 305 In witnes wherof I giue vnto thee this Bill of diuorcement and dimissorie Epistle, being an instrument of libertie according to ye law of Moses.
1650 Bp. J. Prideaux Euchologia (1656) 101 (T.) Old Simeon's craving his letters demissory.
a1656 J. Ussher Ann. World (1658) 431 The Original of that Petaroth or dimissary Lecture, after which the people were dismissed.
2. Ecclesiastical. dimissory letter (usually in plural letters dimissory): (a) (in the ancient church) a letter from a bishop dismissing a clergyman from one diocese and recommending him to another; (b) a letter from a bishop, the superior of a religious order, etc., authorizing the bearer as a candidate for ordination.
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society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > ordination > [noun] > letter(s) recommending
dimissoryc1380
letters dimissory1583
dismissory1716
dimissorial1885
1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. M7v If he..haue letters dimissorie from one bishop to another.
1611 J. Donne Ignatius his Conclaue sig. F6 Accompany them with Certificates, and Dimissory letters.
1673 W. Cave Primitive Christianity iii. iii. 310 Letters Dimissory whereby Leave was given to persons going into another Diocese (if ordained) to be admitted and incorporated into the Clergy of that Church.
1708 Chamberlayne's Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (1743) i. iii. i. 143 He must have Letters Demissory from the Bishop.
1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 128 A Bishop of another Diocess ought neither to ordain nor admit a Clerk..without letters Dimissory.
1818 C. Simeon Let. in Mem. (1847) xx. 497 Letters dimissory for a young man who has distinguished himself.
1819 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 22 73 The abbot was cautioned not to receive a member of any other known monastery without dimissory letters from his superior.
= Letters dimissory: see dimissorial n. Obsolete.
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society > faith > worship > sacrament > order > ordination > [noun] > letter(s) recommending
dimissoryc1380
letters dimissory1583
dismissory1716
dimissorial1885
c1380 Antecrist in Todd 3 Treat. Wyclif (1851) 147 Bi tytle and by dymyssories.
1620 N. Brent tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Councel of Trent vi. 494 In respect of the dimisories of Bishops.
1725 D. Cotes tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 17th Cent. I. v. ii. 69 The Dimissories were given to the Laity and Clergy, who went out of one Diocese..to live in another.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.n.c1380