Skip to learning

YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

abjure

Verb

IPA /əbˈdʒʊə(r)/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

To declare formally that you reject a belief or will stop a particular kind of behaviour.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

abjure/əbˈdʒʊə(r)/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea
  1. Someone once supported a belief

  2. They formally declare their rejection

  3. They promise to leave it behind

To abjure a belief is to reject it formally, often in public.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

  1. In the novel, the former warrior abjures violence.
  2. The historian examined a declaration in which the writer abjured his earlier beliefs.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Which word from this lesson matches this meaning?

To declare formally that you reject a belief or will stop a particular kind of behaviour.
Show the answer

abjure — To declare formally that you reject a belief or will stop a particular kind of behaviour.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “abjure” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To declare formally that you reject a belief or will stop a particular kind of behaviour.

Compare: In the novel, the former warrior abjures violence.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Latin abjurare, formed from ab-, meaning away, and jurare, meaning swear.

Did you know?

Abjure is followed directly by what is rejected: abjure violence or abjure a belief.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

  1. Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
  2. Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
  3. Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.

Share this word

Save the image or share a link to this word.

@englishskillstudio

abjure

/əbˈdʒʊə(r)/ (Verb)

“Formal: abjure is stronger than simply change your mind and often suggests a public declaration.”

englishskillstudio.com