-tory

¹

1. a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, originally adjectival derivatives of agent nouns ending in -tor (predatory ); also forming adjectival derivatives directly from verbs (obligatory; transitory ).

-tory

²

1. a suffix occurring in loanwords from Latin, usually derivatives from agent nouns ending in -tor or directly from verbs, denoting a place or object appropriate for the activity of the verb: dormitory; repository .

Tory

³

[tawr-ee, tohr-ee]

noun

plural

Tories 

1. a member of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada.

2. a member of a political party in Great Britain from the late 17th century to about 1832 that favored royal authority over Parliament and the preservation of the existing social and political order: succeeded by the Conservative party.

3. (often lowercase),  an advocate of conservative principles; one opposed to reform or radicalism.

4. a person who supported the British cause in the American Revolution; a loyalist.

5. (in the 17th century) a dispossessed Irishman who resorted to banditry, especially after the invasion of Oliver Cromwell and suppression of the royalist cause (1649–52).

6. a male or female given name.

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or characteristic of the Tories.

2. being a Tory.

3. (sometimes lowercase),  opposed to reform or radicalism; conservative.

Tory

/ ˈtɔːrɪ /

noun

1. a member or supporter of the Conservative Party in Great Britain or Canada

2. a member of the English political party that opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the royal succession (1679–80). Tory remained the label for subsequent major conservative interests until they gave birth to the Conservative Party in the 1830s

3. an American supporter of the British cause; loyalist Compare Whig

4. (sometimes not capital) an ultraconservative or reactionary

5. (in the 17th century) an Irish Roman Catholic, esp an outlaw who preyed upon English settlers

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to Tories

2. (sometimes not capital) ultraconservative or reactionary

Other Word Forms

• Toryish adjective
• Toryism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tory¹

< Latin -tōrius, equivalent to -tōr- -tor + -ius adj. suffix

Origin of Tory²

< Latin -tōrium, noun use of neuter of -tōrius -tory ¹

Origin of Tory³

1640–50; < Irish *tóraighe outlaw, bandit, derivative of tóir chase, pursuit

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tory¹

C17: from Irish tōraidhe outlaw, from Middle Irish tōir pursuit

Example Sentences

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the ex-MP for Mid-Bedfordshire said: "The Tory Party is dead. Its members now need to think the unthinkable and look to the future."

From BBC

The Mail on Sunday and Sun on Sunday report her purchase of the Hove flat, with the Tories calling on her to clarify where she pays council tax.

From BBC

Rayner has faced mounting Tory criticism over her tax situation after continued media scrutiny in recent weeks.

From BBC

Being bold and radical does not come without risk, as Chowns and Ramsay, who were both elected to Parliament in previously Tory areas, had been keen to point out during the campaign.

From BBC

There is no suggestion she has broken any laws, but the Tories have accused her of hypocrisy and called for an investigation by the PM's standards adviser.

From BBC

Related Words

• archconservative 
• counterrevolutionary 
• regressive 
• rightist 
• ultraconservative