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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To recant solemnly; renounce or repudiate: "For nearly 21 years after his resignation as Prime Minister in 1963, he abjured all titles, preferring to remain just plain 'Mr.'” ( Time).
  2. v. To renounce under oath; forswear.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. To renounce upon oath; forswear; withdraw formally from: as, to abjure allegiance to a prince.
  2. To renounce or repudiate; abandon; retract; especially, to renounce or retract with solemnity: as, to abjure one's errors or wrong practices.
  3. To take an oath of abjuration.

Wiktionary

  1. v. To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow.
  2. v. To renounce or reject with solemnity; to recant; to abandon forever; to reject; repudiate.
  3. v. To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow.
  4. v. To renounce or reject with solemnity; to recant; to abandon forever; to reject; repudiate.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow. To abjure the realm, is to swear to abandon it forever.
  2. v. To renounce or reject with solemnity; to recant; to abandon forever; to reject; repudiate.
  3. v. To renounce on oath.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure

Etymologies

  1. Middle English abjuren, from Old French abjurer, from Latin abiūrāre : ab-, away; see ab-1 + iūrāre, to swear; see yewes- in Indo-European roots.

Examples

  • “These are the very people Orwell was describing, who 'abjure' violence and are not even aware that they are kept safe by 'rough men' ready to do violence on their behalf.”

    Archive 2009-04-01

  • “Indeed, as George Orwell observed, "Those who 'abjure' violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.”

    Archive 2009-04-01

  • “And you'll impress your pals when you drop "abjure" or "loquacity" in conversation.”

    Dan Brown: This Videogame Makes You Smarter and Helps the Hungry: The FreeRice Phenomenon

  • “This is Orwell's definition of a particular segement of society: "Those who" abjure "violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.”

    Sound Politics: "Are Iraqi rebels cheering Dems big election wins?"

  • “Those who 'abjure' violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.”

    Shame on NBC News.

  • “And in his 'Notes on Nationalism' (1945) he wrote: "Those who" abjure "violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf.”

    George Orwell FAQ - George Orwell: The Chestnut Tree Cafe

  • “That, presumably, is why he must 'abjure' this 'rough magic' by breaking his magical staff and drowning his book.”

    Shakespeare

  • “Erard exclaimed that she must "abjure" or be burnt at once.”

    The Story of Rouen

  • “There was some murmuring among the crowd during this long ceremony; for while Jeanne was alive the English soldiery dared attempt nothing fresh; and they only saw in her refusals to "abjure" an immediate reason for handing her over from the ecclesiastical justice to the secular, whose ways were swifter.”

    The Story of Rouen

  • “Pak has evidence about India's involvement in Balochistan' today said Government was willing to open talks with the Maoists provided they "abjure" violence which, he said, was the only hurdle to hold”

    WN.com - Articles related to Pak charge of funding Taliban absurd, baseless: Antony

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Comments

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  • I. Lily C. “I abjure with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith, I curse and detest the said errors and heresies, and generally all and every error and sect contrary to the Holy Catholic Church.” - Galileo Galilei Dec 15, 2010

  • hernesheir (v.t.) to renounce, foreswear, or deny upon oath; to reject, recant, abandon, repudiate. Dec 30, 2008

‘abjure’ has been looked up 5055 times, loved by 7 people, added to 117 lists, commented on 2 times, and has a Scrabble score of 15.