osculatory

plural osculatories

1. ChristianityA religious tablet, usually carrying a representation of Christ or the Virgin Mary, which is kissed by the priest during the Mass ("kiss of peace"); it is then passed to others at the mass who also kiss it.

   Synonyms: pax

comparative more osculatory · superlative most osculatory

1. formalOf or relating to kissing.

   1 more example

   On this the two ladies went through the osculatory ceremony which they were in the habit of performing, and Mrs. Pendennis got a great secret comfort from the little quarrel—for Laura’s confession seemed to say, “That girl can never be a wife for Pen, for she is light-minded and heartless, and quite unworthy of our noble hero.[…]”

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, “Contains Both Love and Jealousy”, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849, →OCLC, pages 242–243

2. geometryRelating to, or having the properties of, an osculatrix; capable of osculation.

   A circle may be osculatory with a curve, at a given point.