salutatory

comparative more salutatory · superlative most salutatory

1. Characteristic of or relating to a salutation or greeting.

   a salutatory oration

   5 more examples

   a salutatory editorial

   a salutatory address

   1659, David Dickson, An Exposition of All St. Pauls Epistles Together with an Explanation of Those Other Epistles of the Apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude, London: Francis Eglesfield, “The First Epistle General of Peter,” Chapter 1, p. 287, In the benediction, or salutatory prayer, he wishes for encrease and multiplication of the effects of Divine favour towards them […]

   The first sloop comes lazily up on the flood tide, like the first butterfly of spring; the little steamer, our river omnibus, makes her first trip, and wakes the echoes with her salutatory whistle, her flags dancing in the sun.

   1894, John Burroughs, “Spring Jottings”, in Riverby, Boston: Hougton Mifflin, page 162

   […] the Account Representative was choosing words neither dismissive nor inviting, neither terse nor intrusive; he was composing a carefully casual face, narrowing salutatory options toward a sort of landlocked “Halloo” that contained already an acknowledgement of distance and an easy willingness to preserve same.

   1989, David Foster Wallace, “Luckily the Account Representative Knew CPR”, in Girl with Curious Hair, New York: Norton, page 48

plural salutatories

1. USA greeting; an address, speech or article of greeting; the first editorial by the new editor of a newspaper or periodical; an introduction or preface.

   She was chosen to deliver the salutatory at the commencement ceremony.

   3 more examples

   The first daily newspaper in the world was established and edited by a woman, Elizabeth Mallet, in London, March, 1702. It was called The Daily Courant. In her salutatory, Mrs. Mallet declared she had established her paper to “spare the public at least half the impertinences which the ordinary papers contain.”

   1881, chapter 2, in Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage, editors, History of Woman Suffrage, volume 1, New York: Fowler & Wells, page 43

   […] a robin red-breast, winging his way from the orange and jasmine boughs of the far sweet South, rested on the ivied wall, and poured out his happy heart in a salutatory to the rising sun.

   1887, Augusta Jane Evans, chapter 31, in At the Mercy of Tiberius, New York: The Co-operative Publication Society, page 548

   1916, Max B. May, Isaac Mayer Wise, the Founder of American Judaism: A Biography, New York: Putnam, Chapter 16, p. 395, His life’s work is well summed up in his salutatory to vol. xliv. of the American Israelite […]

2. obsoleteA place for saluting or greeting.

   […] coming to the Bishop with Supplication into the Salutatory, some out Porch of the Church, he was charg’d by him of tyrannicall madnes against GOD, for comming into holy ground.

   1641, John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England, Thomas Underhill, Book 2, p. 80

   Synonyms: vestibule, porch