adjuration
C2/RareFormal, literary, legal, religious.
Definition
Meaning
A solemn, earnest urging or command; a formal oath or strong appeal.
A formal act of entreaty or command made with the weight of an oath, often invoking divine authority or involving a solemn charge. It can refer to the process of putting someone under oath.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies gravity, solemnity, and often a sense of duty or moral obligation. More intense than a simple 'request' or 'appeal'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British legal/ecclesiastical contexts historically, but overall usage patterns are similar.
Connotations
Connotes archaic solemnity, legal/religious formality, and high rhetoric in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both regions. Found primarily in formal writing, historical texts, legal/religious documents, and literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
adjuration to + VERB (e.g., adjuration to tell the truth)adjuration that + CLAUSE (e.g., adjuration that he desist)adjuration of + NOUN (e.g., adjuration of silence)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “under adjuration (formally sworn or commanded)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or religious studies discussing formal oaths or solemn appeals.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound archaic or deliberately dramatic.
Technical
Used in specific legal or ecclesiastical contexts referring to the formal act of putting someone under oath or issuing a solemn command.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The magistrate adjured the witness to speak only the truth.
- I adjure you, by all you hold dear, to reconsider this course.
American English
- The judge adjured the jury to disregard the earlier testimony.
- She adjured him to tell her everything he knew.
adverb
British English
- He spoke adjuratorily, his hand raised as if taking an oath.
American English
- She looked at him adjuratorily, waiting for his promise.
adjective
British English
- His tone was adjuratory, leaving no room for refusal.
- She gave him an adjuratory look.
American English
- The letter contained an adjuratory plea for immediate action.
- He spoke with adjuratory force.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The king's adjuration for peace was heard by all.
- Under solemn adjuration, the witness finally revealed what he had seen.
- The priest's adjuration that the community renounce its old hatreds fell on receptive ears.
- Her final adjuration, delivered with trembling intensity, was that we remember her story.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ADJURation' as an 'AD-JURY' action: a formal appeal made as if before a jury or a judge, requiring a solemn oath.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEECH AS A BINDING FORCE (The words of an adjuration act like ropes or legal contracts, binding the listener to an action or truth.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'адъюрация' (a false friend). Closest equivalents are 'торжественное увещевание', 'заклинание' (if mystical), or 'присяга' (as an oath).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'adjournment' (suspending a meeting).
- Misspelling as 'adjucation' or 'adjuration'.
- Using it as a synonym for a simple 'question' or 'demand'.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'adjuration' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
An 'oath' is the sworn promise or declaration itself. An 'adjuration' is the formal act of urging, commanding, or putting someone under that oath.
No, it is a very rare, formal word used primarily in legal, religious, or literary contexts. It is not part of everyday vocabulary.
Yes, while it often has religious or mystical connotations, it can be used in any solemn, formal context of urging or commanding, such as in a courtroom or a grave political appeal.
The verb is 'to adjure'.