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precatory: msg#00022

culture.language.word-of-the-day

Subject: precatory

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The Word of the Day for December 23 :

precatory \PREK-uh-tor-ee\ adjective
: expressing a wish

Example sentence:
We here convey our wishes
In this precatory phrase:
May peace and joy be with you
In all the coming days!

Did you know?
Nowadays, you're most likely to see "precatory" used in
legal contexts to distinguish statements that merely express a
wish from those that create a legal obligation. For example, if
you add a provision to your will asking someone to take care of
your pet if you die, that provision is merely precatory.
Outside of jurisprudence, you might see references to such
things as "precatory dress codes" or "precatory stockholder
proposals" -- all of which are non-binding. "Precatory" traces
to Latin "precari" ("to pray"), and it has always referred to
something in the nature of an entreaty or supplication. For
example, a precatory hymn is one that beseeches "from sin and
sorrow set us free" -- versus a laudatory hymn (that is, one
giving praise).






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