Word Confusion: Abjure versus Adjure

Posted February 29, 2016 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Revised as of 13 October 2017

Actually, it was the rhythm of the words abjure and adjure that caught my eye, or ear, as the case may be.

It’s quite unlikely that a writer would confuse these two words, as they’re quite unlikely to use them! There are so many simpler ways to renounce or urge.

Word Confusions…

…started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end. Consider sharing this Word Confusion with friends by tweeting it.

Abjure	Adjure
Credit to: Apple Dictionary.com; Dictionary.com: abjure
“Escaped Convict Magwitch” by J. “Kyd” Clayton Clarke is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons When I’m free, I’ll abjure a criminal life.	“The Comforts of Matrimony” courtesy of British Cartoon Prints Collection is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Ooh, she’s giving him quite the scold. A very definite adjuration!
Part of Grammar:
Verb, transitive Third person present verb: abjures Past tense or past participle: abjured Gerund or present participle: abjuring	Verb, transitive Third person present verb: adjures Past tense or past participle: adjured Gerund or present participle: adjuring
[Formal] Solemnly renounce a belief, cause, or claim	[Formal] Urge or request someone solemnly or earnestly to do something To charge, bind, or command earnestly and solemnly, often under oath or the threat of a penalty
Examples:
It was his refusal to abjure the Catholic faith that led to his death. The crook was forced to abjure the realm. “Haqqani invests great hope that a decision by Pakistan’s military to abjure politics may correct these trends” (David Frum, Pakistan, Between Mosque and Military ). To persuade Iran to abjure weapons, the United States will have to make some kind of deal. Members of the sect were required to abjure all alcoholic drink.	I adjure you to tell me the truth. Jeffrey had to adjure himself to keep awake to the difficulties he alone had made. The magistrate adjured the witness to tell the truth frankly.
Derivatives:
Adjective: abjuratory, nonabjuratory, unabjuratory, unabjured Noun: abjuration, abjurer	Adjective: adjuratory Noun: adjuration, adjurer, adjuror
History of the Word:
Late Middle English from the Latin abjurare, from ab- (away) + jurare (swear).	Late Middle English, in the sense of put a person on oath from the Latin adjurare, from ad- (to) + jurare (swear) from jus or jur- meaning oath.