adjure
[uh-joo r]
- to charge, bind, or command earnestly and solemnly, often under oath or the threat of a penalty.
- to entreat or request earnestly or solemnly.
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Origin of adjure
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for adjure
Contemporary Examples
With courage or common sense, or both, governors and state legislatures can adjure measures like the Arizona bill.
Historical Examples
Jeffrey had to adjure himself to keep awake to the difficulties he alone had made.
The PrisonerAlice Brown
In my ancestor's name, I adjure and remind thee of thy pledge.
ZanoniEdward Bulwer Lytton
I entreat you—I adjure you—to make this known wherever you can.
Salt WaterW. H. G. Kingston
I adjure you to hear me swear that I will have all the justice done to your memory that man can do!
Rattlin the ReeferEdward Howard
I adjure you, Caroline, to lay this clearly before our dear brother.
Evan Harrington, CompleteGeorge Meredith
adjure
- to command, often by exacting an oath; charge
- to appeal earnestly to
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin adjūrāre to swear to, from ad- to + jūrāre to swear, from jūs oath
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for adjure
v.
late 14c., "to bind by oath; to question under oath," from Latin adiurare "confirm by oath, add an oath, to swear to in addition," in Late Latin "to put (someone) to an oath," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + iurare "swear," from ius (genitive iuris) "law" (see jurist). Related: Adjured; adjuring.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper