A vase intended to hold tears, formerly used by archaeologists to designate certain urns found in Roman burials.
1658: For beside these Lachrymatories, notable Lamps with Vessels of Oyles and Aromaticall Liquors attended noble Ossuaries. — Sir Thomas Browne, Urne-Burial (Penguin 2005, p. 21)
Pertaining to or causing tears.