? Obs. [ad. late L. jūdicātori-us of or pertaining to judging, f. ppl. stem of L. jūdicāre to judge: see -ORY.]
1. Having the function of judging or passing sentence; of or pertaining to judgment.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xlix. (1739), 84. An influence upon that Judicatory power that must apply that Law.
1659. Pearson, Creed, VII. 602. The Son of man is thus constantly represented as making … the last judicatory distinction between man and man.
a. 1718. Penn, Tracts, Wks. 1726, I. 679. A great Share in the judicatory Power.
1782. T. Warton, Hist. Kiddington, 61. Druidical shrines, thrones of royal inauguration … and judicatory tribunals.
2. By which a judgment may be made; giving a decisive indication, critical.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. To judge of the apparences … we had need have a iudicatorie instrument.
1624. [see INDICATORY a. 1].
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., I. ii. 21. Amongst such signes some are called Decretorie, or Iudicatorie.
