adjure

American  

[uh-joor] / əˈdʒʊər /

verb (used with object)

adjured, adjuring

1. to charge, bind, or command earnestly and solemnly, often under oath or the threat of a penalty.

2. to entreat or request earnestly or solemnly.

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adjure British  

/ əˈdʒʊə, ˌædʒʊəˈreɪʃən /

verb

1. to command, often by exacting an oath; charge

2. to appeal earnestly to

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Other Word Forms

• adjuration noun
• adjuratory adjective
• adjurer noun
• adjuror noun

Etymology

Origin of adjure

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word adjūrāre. See ad-, jury ¹

Explanation

The verb adjure is a heavy-duty synonym of the word "ask," with more of a demanding tone. For example, you might have to adjure someone to tell the truth. You get a strong sense of the word adjure when you realize that the jure part is similar to "jury." Both come from the Latin jūrāre "swear," which in turn comes from jūs, jūr- "law" (as in justice and jurist). In 14th-century Middle English, the word suggested someone affirming something by swearing with an oath. So adjure means to command solemnly, as in "She adjured him to present the events precisely as he witnessed them."

Example Sentences

This is because they not only bestow praise; they also adjure the congratulatee to continue the good work�or else.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Petrovitch, I adjure you!” said Akaki Akakievitch in an imploring tone, no longer hearing nor wishing to hear the tailor's words, “try to make this cloak last me a little longer.”

From The Mantle and Other Stories by Gogol, Nikolai Vasilievich

South wind and drouth, I adjure you to make the trees of our fathers perish one and all where they stand, rather than that beneath their shade freedom of conscience shall be judged to death!

From The Legend of the Glorious Adventures of Tyl Ulenspiegel in the land of Flanders and elsewhere by Coster, Charles de

And they said, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth" to come out of this man.

From "Granny's Chapters" (on scriptural subjects) by Ross, Lady Mary

A secret, Albert," she replied, with much solemnity,--"a profound secret, which I adjure you not to reveal.

From The Alpine Fay A Romance by Elisabeth Buerstenbinder (AKA E. Werner)