propitiatory

[ pruh-pish-ee-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

adjective

1. serving or intended to propitiate.
2. making propitiation; conciliatory.

noun

1. mercy seat.

propitiatory

/ prəˈpɪʃɪətərɪ /

adjective

1. designed or intended to propitiate; conciliatory; expiatory

noun

1. the mercy seat

Derived Forms

• proˈpitiatorily, adverb

Other Words From

• pro·piti·a·tori·ly adverb
• unpro·piti·a·tory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of propitiatory¹

1275–1325; (noun) Middle English propiciatori the mercy seat < Late Latin propitiātōrium ( propitiate, -tory ² ); (adj.) < Late Latin propitiātōrius ( -tory ¹ )

Example Sentences

We see Agamemnon being advised by spin doctors on how to sacrifice his young daughter, Iphigenia, as a propitiatory offering to the gods, with a minimum of physical mess and nasty public blowback.

From New York Times

Seeing old Kuhn, a religious man, praying aloud and thanking God he has been spared selection for the gas chamber, Levi is furious that Kuhn does not realise it will be his turn next, that "what has happened today is an abomination, which no propitiatory power, no pardon, no expiation by the guilty, which nothing at all in the power of man can ever clean again … If I was God, I would spit at Kuhn's prayer."

From The Guardian

Jinni uses a propitiatory genome that goes beyond genre and stars to sort movies and TV shows by elements like plot, style and mood.

From Forbes

Theodore this morning sent down a thousand cattle and five hundred sheep as a propitiatory offering; but Sir Robert Napier refused to receive them, and has sent-in a renewed demand for the surrender of the fortress.

From Project Gutenberg

"This is Miss Hellner," said Aunt Cuckoo, timorously offering the introduction in the manner of a propitiatory sacrifice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conciliatory
• contrite
• regretful
• remorseful
• repentant
• sorry