a. and sb. [f. COMMEMORATE + -IVE. Cf. F. commémoratif.]
A. adj. Having the attribute of commemorating.
1612–9. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 14. The Popish distinction of oblation primary and commemoratiue confuted.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., II. ix. 376. If … the Eucharist be … a Commemorative Sacrifice of Christ.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), II. viii. 266. A commemorative chapel.
b. Const. of.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxxi. 192. Commemorative of benefits.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. i. 223. In Kew Gardens there is a sun-dial commemorative of this discovery.
c. Med. (See quot.)
1882. Syd. Soc. Lex., Commemorative circumstances, past events having a direct bearing on the diagnosis and nature of disease. Commemorative signs, the points of evidence which are legibly written on the patient … and which enable the nature of a previous disease to be recognised.
B. sb. A means of commemoration. rare.
1636. R. Brathwait, Livres Roman Emp., 18. Commemoratives of his detestable cruelty and other vices.
1649. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 31. A Commemorative of that wonderfull deliverance.
1669. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. viii. 110. Commemoratives of some Divine presence.
Hence Commemoratively adv., in a commemorative manner, by way of commemoration. Commemorativeness, commemorative quality.
1633. Ames, Agst. Cerem., II. 291. Commemoratively or recordatively.
a. 1638. Mede, Wks., II. ix. 376. Christ is offered in this Sacred Supper … Commemoratively only.
1816. G. S. Faber, Orig. Pagan Idol., I. 57. The events of the deluge were commemoratively inscribed on the heavens. Ibid. (1826), Diff. Romanism (1853), 292. The consecrated elements … were deemed a sacrifice only on the ground of figurativeness and Commemorativeness.
