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Glite Dictionary
supplicatory

supplicatory

9.9
Asking for help in a humble, urgent way
  • adjective
  • /ˈsʌplɪkəˌtɔri/
  • Formal
translation icon : suplicante
  • A papal bull of 1456 sought to mobilize mass penitence in the form of monthly supplicatory processions throughout Christian countries as a means of enlisting celestial forces in the earthly struggle.

Examples

  • He looked up at the sky with a supplicatory expression, silently asking for guidance.

  • I agree that there's usually at least some of the male-positive messaging you identify involved, but AFAICT the primary social purpose of "Emm You!" is to keep men in the supplicatory mindset of self-sacrifice for others—other *men* included.

    Blog text (19)

  • During the meeting, she made a supplicatory request for support from her colleagues.

  • The child's supplicatory tone as he asked for forgiveness melted his parent's heart.

Synonyms

pleading
vssupplicatory
1 4.1

Asking for something in a strong, emotional way

is calmer and more humble rather than emotionally forceful
precative
vssupplicatory
9.9

To make a humble, urgent request, often like a prayer

is more about humble personal requesting rather than formal appeal
suppliant
vssupplicatory
  • Formal
8.9

Asking for something in a humble, begging way

focuses on earnest request expressed with personal humility rather than formality
supplicant
vssupplicatory
  • Formal
8.5

Asking in a humble, serious way for help or forgiveness

emphasizes expressing a humble earnest request rather than the asker
imploring
vssupplicatory
6.1

Asking for help in a strong, pleading way

is calmer and more humble rather than urgent or intense asking

Antonyms

arrogant
260 4.5

Behaving as if you are more important or better than other people

insistent
50 4.1

Demanding attention or action again and again in a firm way

How Humble

pleading
1 4.1
supplicatory
  • Formal
9.9
respectful
150 1.1

Surface Forms

supplicatory positive

Morphology

supplicatory = supplicate (transparent) = supplicate + ory

Formed directly from the verb 'supplicate' with the adjectival suffix '-ory', so the adjective's meaning is directly derived from the base verb.

Etymology

Supplicatory comes from Latin supplicare 'to beg', which is made from sub- 'under' and plicare 'to fold'. Imagine someone kneeling with folded hands to ask for help. So supplicatory describes a humble, serious way of asking or praying.