What does adjuror mean?
An adjuror is a person who adjures — one who solemnly and earnestly urges, charges, or commands another to do something, frequently invoking an oath, a sacred duty, or some binding obligation. The word derives from the Latin adiurare, meaning to swear to or conjure by oath, formed from ad- ('to') and iurare ('to swear'), the same root that gives us 'jury', 'perjury', and 'conjure'. An adjuror therefore speaks not casually but with gravity: a judge charging a witness, a priest exhorting a congregation, or a figure in literature imploring someone by everything they hold dear. The term is rare in modern English and belongs chiefly to formal, legal, or literary registers, where its solemn tone lends weight to the act of urging. The more common spelling is 'adjurer', though both forms denote the same agent noun.
nounA person who adjures someone — that is, one who solemnly urges or commands another to do something, often as if under oath or with grave earnestness.
- One who adjures another; a person who solemnly urges, commands, or charges someone to do something, often invoking an oath or sacred obligation.
"The judge acted as an adjuror, solemnly charging the witness to tell nothing but the truth."
"As the ceremony began, the priest served as adjuror, charging the couple to honour their vows before God."
"The old woman was no mere beggar but an adjuror, imploring him by all he held dear to abandon his quest."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple people issuing solemn charges or appeals.
"The ancient rite required two adjurors to charge the accused before the assembly."
Hidden inside 'adjuror' is the Latin root of 'jury' itself — an adjuror doesn't just ask, they bind you as if under oath.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of adjuror
Adjuror comes from the verb 'adjure', borrowed into English from Latin adiurare, meaning 'to swear to' or 'to conjure by an oath', from ad- ('towards') plus iurare ('to swear'), itself rooted in ius ('law, oath'). The agent suffix '-or' marks the person performing the action, making an adjuror literally 'one who puts another under oath'. It shares this Latin oath-root with cognates such as 'conjure', 'abjure', 'perjury', and 'jury'.
How adjuror is actually used
Rare and formal; the spelling 'adjurer' is considerably more common in modern usage. The word carries a solemn, weighty connotation, appropriate to religious, legal, or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with adjuror
Adjurer is the more common spelling of the same word; adjuror is a less frequent variant, much as 'advisor' and 'adviser' vary.
A juror serves on a jury judging a case, whereas an adjuror solemnly urges or charges someone to do something.