a. [ad. med.L. supplicātōrius, f. supplicātor: see prec. and -ORY2. Cf. F. supplicatoire.] Expressing, consisting of, or containing supplication.
Letters supplicatory, supplicatory letters = F. lettres supplicatoires, mod.L. supplices litteræ. (Obs. exc. Hist.)
c. 1450. Mankind, 866, in Macro Plays, 32. Wyth-owte deserte & menys supplicatorie, Ȝe be compacient to my inexcusabyll reprowe.
1550. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 92. Heraldis with lettres supplicatiouris.
1579. Stubbes, in Harington’s Nugæ Ant. (1804), I. 151. To offer this supplicatorye submission and peticion into your Majesties handes.
1583. Travers (title), An Answere to a Svpplicatorie Epistle of G. T. for the pretended Catholiqves.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xxv. 283. The Pardon that we give in the Name of God, is only declaratory of his Pardon, or supplicatory in a prayer to him for Pardon.
1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 205. They framed a supplicatory letter.
1742. Richardson, Pamela, III. 289. I … laid my Hand upon her Ladyship’s in a supplicatory Manner.
1820. Southey, Wesley, II. 553. A supplicatory hymn for his recovery was sung in the church.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., V. xxii. 578. The Vermont council of safety despatched supplicatory letters for aid to the New Hampshire committee.
b. Of persons: Suppliant. rare.
1880. Meredith, Tragic Com. (1881), 287. After the manner of supplicatory ladies appealing to lawyers.
Hence Supplicatorily adv., in a supplicatory manner.
1625. Donne, Serm., 26 April (1649), II. 289. Having the dignity of a Parent upon her, she [sc. the Church] does not proceed supplicatorily,… but imperatively, authoritatively.
