lachrymatory

American  

[lak-ruh-muh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈlæk rə məˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

Or lacrimatory

adjective

1. of, relating to, or causing the shedding of tears.

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noun

plural

lachrymatories

1. Also called lachrymal.  a small, narrow-necked vase found in ancient Roman tombs, formerly thought to have been used to catch and keep the tears of bereaved friends.

lachrymatory British  

/ ˈlækrɪmətərɪ, -trɪ /

noun

1. a small vessel found in ancient tombs, formerly thought to hold the tears of mourners

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adjective

1. a variant spelling of lacrimatory

Etymology

Origin of lachrymatory

1650–60; (noun) < Medieval Latin lachrymātōrium, equivalent to lachrymā ( re ) to shed tears + -tōrium -tory ²; (adj.) < Medieval Latin lachrymātōrius, equivalent to lachrymā ( re ) + -tōrius -tory ¹; lachrymal

Example Sentences

Onions make us teary because a reaction in the onion releases a chemical called lachrymatory factor, or LF, that irritates our eyes.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2017

"What he was proposing to use in Mesopotamia was lachrymatory gas, which is essentially tear gas, not mustard gas."

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2015

"She takes the lachrymatory for a golden vase, which your excellency is presenting to her as a present."

From The Youth of the Great Elector by Mühlbach, L. (Luise)

Opening my door, I encountered the not unpleasant smell of lachrymatory gas.

From Pushed and the Return Push by Nichols, George Herbert Fosdike

Notes Great caution should be exercised in working with dichloroacetone, as it is extremely lachrymatory and blisters the skin.

From Organic Syntheses by Conant, James Bryant