Definition

1. Verb:
   • To formally and solemnly renounce or reject a belief, claim, or position that one previously held. This action is often done publicly and under pressure.
   • To swear to give up or leave a place or country forever.

Usage

• Verb:
  • The primary use is to describe a formal, often public, act of disavowal. It implies a final and decisive break from a previous stance, opinion, or allegiance.
  • It is used with objects such as beliefs, opinions, rights, or allegiances.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Under threat of excommunication, he was forced to abjure his heretical views.
  • The witness abjured her earlier testimony, claiming it was made under duress.
  • In the old tale, the knight was made to abjure the realm.

Advanced Usage

• "To abjure the realm": A historical legal phrase meaning to swear an oath to leave one's country forever, often to avoid a death sentence or other severe punishment.
  • Faced with execution, the noble chose to abjure the realm and live in exile.

Variants and Related Words

• Abjuration (n): The act of abjuring; a formal renunciation.
  • His abjuration of the throne shocked the nation.
• Abjurer (n): A person who abjures.

Synonyms

• Renounce: To give up, refuse, or resign, often formally.
• Forswear: To reject or renounce under oath.
• Recant: To formally withdraw or disavow a former statement or belief, especially a religious one.
• Retract: To take back or withdraw a statement or promise.

Antonyms

• Affirm: To state or assert positively; to confirm.
• Profess: To declare openly; to affirm one's faith in or allegiance to.
• Uphold: To support or maintain a principle or belief.

Related Phrases

• Abjure one's errors: To formally renounce one's mistakes or wrong beliefs.
  • The scientist publicly abjured his errors after new evidence emerged.

Verb

1. formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
   • He retracted his earlier statements about his religion
   • She abjured her beliefs