-ary
(Latin: a suffix; a person who, a place where, a thing which, or pertaining to; connected with; having the character of; apparatus)
The following examples of this suffix represent a very small number of those that exist in other parts of this lexicon.
ablephary
A congenital defect marked by a partial or total absence of the eyelids.
ablutionary (adjective), more ablutionary, most ablutionary
1. Pertaining to the bathing of the body, or parts of it: Such muggy weather required more ablutionary showers than usual.
2. A reference to a religious purification of the body by washing, especially a ritual washing of the hands, etc.: Robert completed his ablutionary ceremonies of soaping up, rinsing, and the drying of his hands each morning before going to prayer in the chapel.
2. A reference to a religious purification of the body by washing, especially a ritual washing of the hands, etc.: Robert completed his ablutionary ceremonies of soaping up, rinsing, and the drying of his hands each morning before going to prayer in the chapel.
aboriginary (adjective); more aboriginary, most aboriginary
1. Describing or relating to the area where the earliest known inhabitants: The aboriginary location of the native people has been established.
2. A reference to where indigenous or original fauna or flora existed or may continue to survive in a geographical area: The animals in these aboriginary regions no longer exist.
2. A reference to where indigenous or original fauna or flora existed or may continue to survive in a geographical area: The animals in these aboriginary regions no longer exist.
The local zoo had an aboriginary section in which the native plants of the region were growing.
admaxillary (adjective) (not comparable)
Near or connected to the maxilla or jawbone: Since Chuck was having awful pains in the admaxillary area of his mouth, he went directly to his dentist who examined and diagnosed Chuck's condition.
1. A person who, or that which, takes up a position of antagonism, or acts in a hostile manner; an opponent, antagonist; an enemy, a foe: The governor's political adversaries tried to keep him from winning a second term in office.
2. Etymology: from Anglo-French adverser, from Old French adversier, from Latin adversarius, "opponent, rival"; literally, "turned toward one", from adversus, "turned against".
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2. Etymology: from Anglo-French adverser, from Old French adversier, from Latin adversarius, "opponent, rival"; literally, "turned toward one", from adversus, "turned against".
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A condition of being without or lacking any female reproductive organs.
alimentary
1. Concerning food, nourishment, and the organs of digestion.
2. Providing food or nourishment.
2. Providing food or nourishment.
The Alimentary Canal
The digestion and absorption of food take place in a muscular tube that runs for over thirty feet (about nine meters) from the mouth to the anus. This is the digestive tract, sometimes referred to as the alimentary canal because we take our aliment (food) through it. It takes about fifteen hours for food to complete the trip through the alimentary canal.
alveolocapillary
androgynary
Applied to flowers in which both stamens and pistils are developed into petals, as in the double narcissus.
anniversary
1. A date that is observed on an annual basis because it is the same date as an important event in a past year; such as, the date of someone's wedding.
2. A celebration or other commemorative ritual marking the date of an important event.
3. Etymology: from Latin anniversarius, "returning annually", from annus, "year" + versus; past participle of vertere. "to turn". The adjective came to be used as a noun in Church Latin as anniversaria dies with reference to saints' days.
2. A celebration or other commemorative ritual marking the date of an important event.
3. Etymology: from Latin anniversarius, "returning annually", from annus, "year" + versus; past participle of vertere. "to turn". The adjective came to be used as a noun in Church Latin as anniversaria dies with reference to saints' days.
The year rolls around to bring the anniversary of birth, marriage, or some other event; and this "turning" of the year is the literal meaning of the word anniversary.
annuary
antiphonary
A book, often large and richly decorated, containing antiphons or anthems to be sung or chanted responsively.
aortocoronary
1. A drugstore or a place where prescriptions can be filled and where they are stored: Brent went to the apothecary to talk to the druggist about some medical drugs that might diminish his headache.
2. Etymology: "shopkeeper, especially one who stores, compounds, and sells medicaments"; from Old French apotecaire; Modern French apothicaire; from Late Latin apothecarius, "storekeeper"; from Latin apotheca, "storehouse"; which came from Greek apotheke "storehouse". Literally, "a place where things are put away", from apo- "away" + tithenai "to put".
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2. Etymology: "shopkeeper, especially one who stores, compounds, and sells medicaments"; from Old French apotecaire; Modern French apothicaire; from Late Latin apothecarius, "storekeeper"; from Latin apotheca, "storehouse"; which came from Greek apotheke "storehouse". Literally, "a place where things are put away", from apo- "away" + tithenai "to put".
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arbitrary (adjective), more arbitrary, most arbitrary
1. Descriptive of decisions made by a person's liking; dependent upon someone's will or pleasure; at the discretion or option of another individual: The supervisor made an unplanned and arbitrary decision to cancel the meeting this afternoon.
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The company is experiencing an arbitrary takeover by another business.
2. Unrestrained in the exercise of the will; of uncontrolled power or authority, absolute; hence, despotic and tyrannical: Despite the fact that arbitrary arrests are usually illegal, they continued to take place in certain areas of the community.