Abjures

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /əbˈdʒʊəz/

Definitions

1. To formally and publicly reject a belief or commitment while also distancing oneself from a previously held position or principle
2. To renounce or give up a belief, cause, or claim especially under oath or with solemnity
3. To solemnly disavow or abandon a formerly held opinion, principle, or allegiance

Etymology: "Abjures" is the third-person singular present of "abjure", which means to renounce something solemnly, often under oath. The verb comes from Latin "abiurare", built from "ab-", meaning "away from", and "iurare", "to swear an oath". Its literal sense is therefore to swear away, or to deny on oath, which explains why the word carries a sense of formal, binding renunciation rather than casual giving up. The Latin verb passed into Old French as "abjurer" and then into Middle English as "abjuren", where it kept the legal flavour of swearing against a prior claim or belief. Its root, "iurare", connects it to a large family of Latin words about law and right, which is why the word still sounds like a courtroom term.

Synonyms: renounces, relinquishes, rejects, disavows, forswears

Antonyms: embraces, accepts, adopts, supports, endorses