Elevatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Concerning devices or technology aimed at increasing height or positioning
2. Pertaining to mechanisms or means used to elevate or lift objects or structures
3. Connected with systems that raise something to a higher position or level

Etymology: Elevatory is a plain formation: the verb "elevate" with the suffix "-ory" added. "Elevate" comes from the Latin "elevatus", the past participle of "elevare", which combines "ex-" ("out of" or "up from") with "levare", "to raise", itself from "levis", "light" in weight. The idea of lightening or lifting up is built into the root, so something that is elevated has been made to rise. The suffix "-ory" reached English through Old French from Latin "-torius", a form that turns a verb into an adjective meaning "serving to" or "relating to" the action. Words like "satisfactory" and "introductory" follow the same pattern. Elevatory therefore means "serving to raise", and the word was built in English from the existing verb rather than inherited from classical Latin.

Synonyms: lifting, raising, uplifting