a. [ad. L. explōrātōri-us, f. explōrāre: see EXPLORE.]
1. Of or pertaining to exploration; connected with investigation or searching.
1651. Reliq. Wotton. (1685), 507. This is but an exploratory, and pretentative purpose between us.
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., verse 16, ii. § 2 (1669), 183/1. When God seems to delay … before he comes with the mercy he promiseth, and we pray for; ’tis exploratory to faith.
a. 1711. Ken, Div. Love, Wks. (1838), 275. I renounce … all abuse of thy name … in … exploratory lots.
1828. Edin. Rev., XLVIII. 429. Early in this century … remarkable exploratory zeal arose.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), VI. xlviii. 80. A new kind of military chaplet … to which he gave the name of the crown exploratory.
2. a. Constructed or selected for exploration or observation (of the surrounding country).
1732. Hist. Litteraria, III. 500. At some distance were also exploratory Forts.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1772, 103. On the very summit of the hill is a small irregular intrenchment, intended as exploratory.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. I. iv. 167. The Romans placed several posts, as exploratory forts, along the banks of the Forth.
b. Undertaken for the sake of exploration, examination or discovery.
1620. Jas. I., in Reliq. Wotton. (1685), 495. Your imployment is, for the present, meerly exploratory and provisional.
1692. Bp. Hopkins, Exp. Lord’s Pr., 123. There is an Exploratory Temptation, to search out and discover what is in Man.
1825. Southey, in Q. Rev., XXXII. 25. Herefordshire … a favourite scene of their exploratory travels.
1887. Sir S. Ferguson, Ogham Inscriptions, 17. At present the study is exploratory rather than demonstrative.
1891. Spectator, 11 July, 33/2. Mr. Gladstone’s eldest son, died … after an exploratory operation … to find out whether or not it would be possible to remove a tumour.
c. Charged with the duty of exploration. Also (nonce-use), bent on exploration.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. IV. v. Chalons sends forth exploratory pickets of National Volunteers.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxiii. An exploratory blackbeetle now and then was found immovable upon the stairs.
