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annunciatory

annunciatory

9.9
To make something sound like someone telling important news
  • adjective
  • /əˈnʌnʃəˌtɔri/
translation icon : anunciador
  • She delivered an annunciatory message to the team about the upcoming changes in policy.

Examples

  • The annunciatory tone of the speaker captured everyone's attention during the ceremony.

  • After Kylie, I could not seem to bear the thought of those tender, annunciatory lights shining on that black sea.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • In the third encounter, by contrast, annunciatory tropes—"soft flames," "bells rippling"—seem poised to transform an auspicious beginning into a swift-moving progress.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The annunciatory signs at the event clearly communicated the schedule to all attendees.

Synonyms

enunciatory
vsannunciatory
9.1

To speak words clearly so people can hear and understand them

is about making a public or formal announcement rather than mere clear wording
enunciative
vsannunciatory
7.9

Saying words clearly so other people can understand

is used for making a public announcement rather than just clear expression

Surface Forms

annunciatory positive

Morphology

annunciatory = announce (semi-transparent) = announce + atory

The meaning 'relating to announcing' follows from 'announce' + the adjectival suffix '-atory', but the stem changes (announce → annunci-) and the form is relatively rare, which may confuse learners.

Etymology

Annunciatory comes from the same root as announce, which goes back to the Latin word nuntius meaning 'messenger' and to a verb that meant 'to make known'. So something annunciatory acts like a messenger: it clearly announces or signals news.