Adjuring

Adjuring is the present participle form of the verb adjure. The verb adjure means to command or urge someone to do something solemnly, or to bind someone by oath or solemn promise; it can also mean to exhort or entreat. In modern English, adjure is formal or archaic and is more likely to appear in religious, legal, or literary contexts than in everyday speech. The act or its expression can be described by the noun adjuration, and someone who makes such a call may be said to adjure others or to adjure them to tell the truth.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin adiurare meaning “to swear to,” formed from ad- “to” + iurare “to swear,” passing into English via Old French adjurer. The sense of invoking an oath or solemn appeal has remained central to its meaning.

Usage notes: The core sense involves a solemn appeal or command, often with moral or ceremonial weight. It can imply binding authority, typically backed by conscience, religion, or law. In contemporary usage, adjure remains relatively rare and is mostly confined to formal prose, historical texts, or stylized speech. Related forms include adjuration (the act of adjuring) and adjurant or adjuratory (adjectival forms relating to an adjuration or oath).

Examples: “The priest adjured the congregation to repent.” “The judge adjured the witness to tell the truth.” “I adjure you, by all that is holy, to speak plainly.”

See also: adjuration, oath, entreaty, beseech, implore, truth-telling.