Definition

1. Verb:
   • To direct or command someone authoritatively to do something: "enjoin" means to issue a formal order or instruction, often with an expectation of obedience.
   • To prohibit or forbid by judicial order: In a legal context, "enjoin" means to issue an injunction, a court order that requires a party to do or, more commonly, to refrain from doing a specific act.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (to command):
  • The judge enjoined the company to cease its operations immediately.
  • The teacher enjoined silence upon the noisy classroom.
• Verb (legal prohibition):
  • The court enjoined the publication of the confidential documents.
  • They sought to enjoin the city from building the new highway.

Advanced Usage

• "to enjoin someone from doing something": This structure is common in legal language to mean to legally prohibit an action.
  • The plaintiff asked the court to enjoin the defendant from using the trademark.
• "to enjoin an action on/upon someone": A formal way to state that a duty or action is imposed.
  • The contract enjoins strict confidentiality upon all employees.

Variants and Related Words

• Enjoiner (n, rare): One who enjoins.
• Enjoining (n): The act of issuing an injunction or a command.

Synonyms

• Command: To give an authoritative order.
• Direct: To give authoritative instructions.
• Order: To give a command.
• Prohibit (in legal sense): To formally forbid by law, rule, or other authority.
• Forbid: To command against the doing of something.

Related Phrases

• Issue an injunction: The formal legal act of enjoining.
  • The judge issued an injunction to enjoin the strike.

Notes on Usage

• Formality: "Enjoin" is a formal word, more common in legal, official, or literary contexts than in everyday conversation. In everyday speech, words like "order," "tell," or "command" are more frequent for the first meaning.
• Grammar: It is often used with the prepositions "on," "upon," or "from." The structure "enjoin someone to do something" is used for positive commands, while "enjoin someone from doing something" is used for prohibitions, especially legal ones.

Verb

1. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
   • I said to him to go home
   • She ordered him to do the shopping
   • The mother told the child to get dressed
2. issue an injunction