Commemoratory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Serving to honor or preserve the memory of a person, event, or achievement through ceremony or memorial
2. Designed to honor and remember a specific individual, occurrence, or accomplishment through various formal observances or rituals
3. Functioning as a tribute to maintain the remembrance of a person, event, or landmark achievement in a ceremonial manner

Etymology: "Commemoratory" entered English in 1695, borrowed from New Latin "commemoratorius," a coinage built on the Latin verb "commemorare," meaning to call to mind or mention. The Latin verb itself combines "com-," an intensifying prefix, with "memorare," to make mention of, which comes from "memor," mindful. So at its root the word is about bringing something back into the mind together with others. English already had "commemorate," borrowed from the same Latin verb, and the adjective is essentially that verb with the suffix "-ory," which marks something that serves a particular function. A commemoratory act, object or ceremony is one whose purpose is to keep a person, event or achievement in public memory. The French "commémoratoire" shares the same construction, so the word travelled through both languages in a similar form.

Synonyms: memorial, celebratory, honorary, recognition, observational