abjuration

American  

[ab-juh-rey-shuhn] / ˌæb dʒəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of abjuring.

2. renunciation upon oath.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonabjuration
  noun

Etymology

Origin of abjuration

1505–15; < Medieval Latin abjūrātiōn- (stem of abjūrātiō ); see abjure, -ate ¹, -ion

Explanation

When you've given up your old ideas about something, or retracted a statement you made earlier, you can call it abjuration. Your conservative uncle might be frustrated at the abjuration of your former political opinions, especially if you become a progressive Democrat. Many people experience an abjuration of their religious beliefs, renouncing one faith for another or dropping religion from their lives altogether. When you abjure something, you give it up or renounce it. The Latin root is abiurare, "deny on oath."

Example Sentences

On the second day after the abjuration, the patient is out of danger.

From The Executioner's Knife Or Joan of Arc by Sue, Eug?ne

Previous to suffering the penalty of his treason he made and signed a public abjuration, for the copy of which see Appendix E. Note 16.

From The Katipunan or The Rise and Fall of the Filipino Commune by St. Clair, Francis

A solemn recantation or renunciation; as, an abjuration of heresy.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

Oath of abjuration, an oath asserting the right of the present royal family to the crown of England, and expressly abjuring allegiance to the descendants of the Pretender.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

And certainly, since the great day of the abjuration of King Philip II in the year 1581, the country had not passed through any such violent crisis as it was now facing.

From The Rise of the Dutch Kingdom 1795-1813 by Van Loon, Hendrik Willem