commendatory

Commendatory is an adjective meaning expressing praise or favorable recommendation; it can describe remarks, documents, or attributes that extol someone or something. The term originates from the Latin commendare, meaning to entrust or to recommend, and entered English through Old French as commendatoire; it has been used since the Early Modern period, though it remains relatively formal and literary today.

In usage, commendatory describes acts or language that offer praise or introduce someone positively. Examples include a commendatory letter of introduction, which vouches for the bearer to a prospective host or patron; a commendatory preface to a book, which extols the author or work; and commendatory remarks made in a public speech. The noun form is commendation; the related adjective is commendable, meaning worthy of praise.

Related terms include laudatory and complimentary, though commendatory often connotes formal praise or recommendation rather than casual praise. Its antonym is condemnatory or censuring. In historical contexts, commendatory materials were sometimes used to secure patronage or favorable reception for a manuscript or proposal. Overall, commendatory describes language or documents that aim to elevate the subject through praise or endorsement.