First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
abjure
verb ab·jure \ab-ˈju̇r\
: to reject (something) formally
ab·juredab·jur·ing
Full Definition of ABJURE
transitive verb
1
a : to renounce upon oath b : to reject solemnly
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Origin of ABJURE
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French abjurer, from Latin abjurare, from ab- + jurare to swear — more at jury
Related to ABJURE
Synonym Discussion of ABJURE
abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm rejecting or abandoning often made under oath <abjured the errors of his former faith>. renounce may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown <renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting>. forswear may add an implication of perjury or betrayal <I cannot forswear my principles>. recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught <if they recant they will be spared>. retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation <the newspaper had to retract the story>.
Rhymes with ABJURE
adjure, Adour, allure, amour, Ashur, assure, brochure, ceinture, cocksure, coiffure, conjure, contour, couture, demure, detour, dirt-poor, endure, ensure, faubourg, for sure, Fraktur, grandeur, gravure, guipure, hachure, immure, impure, insure, inure, kultur, land-poor, langur, ligure, manure, mature, mohur, obscure, parure, perdure, procure, rondure, secure, siddur, tambour, tandoor, tenure, Uighur, unmoor, velour, velure
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