a. and sb. Obs. [ad. late L. commonitōri-us ‘suitable for reminding,’ neut. commonitōri-um as sb. ‘a writing for reminding, a letter of instructions.’]
A. adj. Serving to remind, advise, or admonish.
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 194/1. Letters commonitorie, exhortatorie, and of correction.
1625. Donne, Serm., lxvi. 664. How many without any former preparatory crosse or comminatory or commonitory crosse … fall under some one stone.
1747. Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 602. The Archbishop’s apologetical, declamatory and commonitory letters.
B. sb. A commonitory writing; a warning.
1709. J. Johnson, Clergym. Vade M., II. 225. His commonitory to Ammon.
1849. W. Fitzgerald, trans. Whitaker’s Disp. (Parker Soc.), 8. That the scriptures are no rule of faith at all, but a certain commonitory.
