-ORY


Meaning of -ORY in English

I. -ory 1 / ə ri $ ɔːri, ə ri/ BrE AmE suffix [in nouns]

a place or thing that is used for doing something:

an observatory (=a place from where people watch something, especially the stars)

II. -ory 2 BrE AmE suffix [in adjectives]

describes something that does a particular thing:

an explanatory note (=that gives an explanation)

a congratulatory telegram (=that congratulates someone)

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.