precatory

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UK/ˈpɹɛ.kə.tə.ɹi/UK/ˈpɹɛ.kə.tɹi/US/ˈpɹɛ.kəˌtɔ.ɹi/

adjective

Expressing a wish.

“precatory words in a will”

Similar
precativesupplicatoryaspirationalbeseechingpleadingimploring
OriginLate Latin precatorius ← Latin precari →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

adjectiveprecatory (comparative more precatory, superlative most precatory)

comparative more precatory · superlative most precatory

  1. Expressing a wish.

    December 8. . . . A precatory letter from Gillies. I must do Molière for him, I suppose; but it is wonderful that knowing the situation I am in, the poor fellow presses so hard.

    1827 December, Sir Walter Scott, The Journal of Sir Walter Scott

    Synonyms: precative, supplicatory

  2. lawExpressing a wish but not creating any legal obligation or duty.

    precatory words in a will

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveExpressing a wish.

Similar
precativesupplicatory
Similar
aspirational

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveexpressing entreaty or supplication

Similar
precativebeseechingpleadingimploring
Also see
precative

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinprecari“to pray”
  2. Late Latinprecatorius
  3. Englishprecatory

From Late Latin precatorius, from Latin precari (“to pray”).

More words from Late Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

precatory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/precatory

MLA

“precatory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/precatory. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “precatory,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/precatory.

Source: precatory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.