lachrymatory

adj, noun — 2 senses

lachrymatory

adj

/ˈlækɹɪmətəɹi/

Etymology From Latin lachrymātōrius. By surface analysis, lachrymate + -ory.

Pertaining to or causing tears.

1919: It is sheer affectation to lacerate a man with the poisonous fragment of a bursting shell and to boggle at making his eyes water by means of lachrymatory gas. — Winston Churchill, "1919 War Office Memorandum"

lachrymatory

noun

Etymology From Latin lachrymātōrium. By surface analysis, lachrymate + -ory.

Archaeology, History, Human sciences, Sciences A vase supposedly intended to hold tears; formerly used by archaeologists to designate certain urns found in Roman burials.

1658: For beside these Lachrymatories, notable Lamps with Vessels of Oyles and Aromaticall Liquors attended noble Ossuaries. — Sir Thomas Browne, Urne-Burial (Penguin 2005, p. 21)

Synonyms: lachrymal, lacrimal

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.