abjuration

American  

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

noun

1. the act of abjuring.

2. renunciation upon oath.

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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

See Examples For:

abjuration

Doubts, however, as to the genuineness of his abjuration again troubled the Kirk.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 8 "Hudson River" to "Hurstmonceaux" by Various

John Russell introduced a motion that the House should resolve itself into a committee to consider the mode of administering the oath of abjuration to persons professing the Jewish religion.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851 by Various

James Camus—"And before the abjuration, what did your voices say?"

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

This was not a strictly formal abjuration such as was customarily required of prisoners of the Inquisition, yet it might have sufficed.

From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume II by Lea, Henry Charles

As early as 1184 the Verona decree of Lucius III. provides that those who, after abjuration, relapse into the abjured heresy shall be delivered to the secular courts, without even the opportunity of being heard.

From A History of The Inquisition of The Middle Ages; volume I by Lea, Henry Charles