Objuration

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The practice of urgently beseeching an individual for action denotes a solemn request for assistance or intervention, alongside an expression of strong yearning in a formal context
2. A fervent solicitation for someone to act reflects a serious plea for support and includes a profound expression of desire or earnest appeal
3. An intense and formal appeal made to persuade someone to do something important

Etymology: "Objuration" is a strikingly literal word: it comes from Latin "objurare", meaning "to bind by oath," built from "ob-" (against, toward) and "jurare" (to swear). The Latin verb was a fairly solemn one, the sort of thing that committed a person through an oath rather than simply urging them along. Over time the sense shifted from the act of binding someone by a sworn promise to the act of pressing an earnest, formal appeal. A request made in this form carries the weight of a pledge, which helps explain why the word still sounds more ceremonious than a plain plea. The word is rare in everyday English, so its surprising root in oath-taking is usually the first thing a reader notices.

Synonyms: exorcism, curse