a. [ad. med.L. excūsātōri-us, f. late L. excūsātor: see prec.] Tending or intended to excuse; making or containing an excuse; apologetic.
1535. Bonner, Lett., in Burnet, Hist. Ref., II. 175. The matters excusatorie to be admitted by his Holiness.
1642. Sir E. Dering, Sp. on Relig., To Rdr. Let those who are in a fault ransome themselves with excusatory defences.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VII. lix. 234. I hear the fellow’s voice in a humble, excusatory tone.
1818. Lamb, Last Ess. Elia, Pop. Fallacies, 482. It would be a good face if it were not marked by the small-pox—a compliment which is always more admissive than excusatory.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., III. vii. Offering these excusatory words as if they reflected great credit on himself.
