-ory

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-ory2 adj. suffix repr. L. -ōrius, fem. -ōria, n. -ōrium (partly through F. -orie), primarily f. agent-nouns in -ōr- -OR1 + -ius -IOUS, as in amatory, dilatory, initiatory, satisfactory, supplicatory; later extended, as in compulsory, illusory, perfunctory. Cf. -ORIAL, -ORIOUS.

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