Commendatory \Com*mend"a*to*ry\, a. [L. commendatorius.] 1. Serving to commend; containing praise or commendation; commending; praising. ``Commendatory verses.'' --Pope. 2. Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. --Burke. {Commendatory prayer} (Book of Common Prayer), a prayer read over the dying. ``The commendatory prayer was said for him, and, as it ended, he [William III.] died.'' --Bp. Burnet.