a. [ad. L. expiātōri-us, f. expiātor: see EXPIATOR and -ORY.] Having the attribute of expiating or making satisfaction for an offence; serving to expiate. Const. of.
1548. Latimer, Serm. Plough, Wks. I. 68. Expiatory … is nothing else but a thing whereby to obtain remission of sins.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 62. He hath patiently endured a while the first expiatorie purifications and troubles.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm. Matt. i. 20. The sacrifice expiatory for our offences was to be a lamb without blemish.
1793. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 355. The first great misfortune will call them from their dungeons as expiatory victims.
1812. T. Cogan, Theol. Disquisitions, II. 183. Human sacrifices … being the most valuable … were considered as the most expiatory.
1869. Goulburn, Purs. Holiness, xi. 105. That bloody and shameful death was … expiatory of sin.
Hence Expiatoriness.
1730–6. Bailey (folio), Expiatoriness, expiating quality.
