v., also 6 abjowre. [a. Fr. abjure-r (in Palsgr.), ad. L. abjūrā-re to deny on oath, f. ab away + jūrā-re to swear.]
1. To renounce on oath; to retract, recant, or abnegate (a position or opinion formerly held).
a. trans.
1501. Will of John Bawde, in Bury Wills, 83 (1850). Alle tho wyllys abieured and revokyd byfor thys day mad.
1528. More, Dial. Heres., I. Wks. 1557, 108/2. He was forced to forswere and abiure certaine heresyes.
1610. Shaks., Temp., V. i. 51. But this rough Magicke I heere abjure.
1774. Burke, Sp. On Amer. Tax., Wks. II. 379. The principle which lord Hillsborough had abjured.
1829. Southey, Young Dragon, iii. Wks. VI. 274. My pagan faith I put away, Abjure it and abhor it.
1871. R. W. Dale, Ten Commandts., vi. 155. I must die rather than abjure a single article of my creed.
b. absol.
1528. More, Dial. Heres., IV. Wks. 1557, 282/1. Nor neuer yet found I ani. j. but he would once abiure, though he neuer intended to kepe his othe.
1531. Dial. on Laws of Eng., II. xxix. 115 (1638). If a man be convict of heresy and abjure, hee hath forfeit no goods.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, 1773. Wylt thu here abiure or no? I wyll neyther abiure, nor yet recant Gods glorye.
† 2. causally. To cause to forswear or recant (heresies, etc.). Obs.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., VII. 159 b/2 (1520). Reynold Pecoke bysshop of Chestre was founde an herytyke, and the thyrde daye of Decembre was abjured at Lambeth.
1494. Fabyan, VII. ccxliv. 286. Almaricus, a studyent of Parys, helde sertayne opynyons of heresy, of ye which whan he was abiured, he tooke suche thought yt he dyed shortly after.
1528. More, Dial. Heres., III. Wks. 1557, 216/2. Considering that they might, as in conclusion they did, abiure him otherwise.
1536–42. Thynne, Animadv., App. 1. And then all such must be burned, or ellis ab-Iuryd.
3. To disclaim solemnly or formally; to repudiate or reject upon oath (a claim or claimant).
1597. Daniel, Civ. War, IV. xxix. The foule report of that assasinate: which utterly He doth abjure.
1665. Manley, trans. Grotius’s Low-Countrey-Warrs, 183. To abjure all Authority over the Netherlands.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 480. To find her, or for ever to deplore Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure.
1799. T. Jefferson, Writings, IV. 301 (1859). I sincerely join you in abjuring all political connection with every foreign power.
1851. Macaulay, Essays, Milton, I. 15. While they abjured the innocent badges of popery.
1863. Cox, Inst. Eng. Govt., I. viii. 128. The oath prescribed for abjuring the Pretender and his descendants.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. v. 381. The assembly abjured the whole house of Æthelred.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., i. 3. [The Christianity of the Gospel] abjures force, it throws itself upon moral influence for its propagation and maintenance.
b. absol.
1671. Milton, P. R., I. 473. Say and unsay, feign, flatter, and abjure.
4. To abjure the realm, town, commonwealth, etc.: to swear to abandon it for ever.
1530. Palsgr., 415. I abjowre, I forsake myne errours, as an heretyke dothe, or forswere the kynges landes; Je abjure.
1576. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 497. If he take Sanctuarie, and do abiure the Realme.
1609. Sir J. Skene, Reg. Mag., 155. Gif any man hes abjured the towne (sworne to passe forth of the burgh) and is returned againe.
1651. W. G., trans. Cowel’s Inst., 274. He who kills Deere, and cannot finde security to put in for the payment of the Fine imposed, is compelled to abjure the Common-wealth.
1677. Hobbes, Dial. on Com. Laws Eng., 183. When a Clerk heretofore was convicted of Felony, he might have saved his life by abjuring the Realm; that is, by departing the Realm within a certain time appointed, and taking an Oath never to return.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 399. Even while abjurations were in force, such a criminal was not allowed to take sanctuary and abjure the realm.
b. absol.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 14. Whoever was not capable of this Sanctuary, could not have the Benefit of Abjuration: and therefore, he that committed Sacrilege could not abjure.
† 5. causally. To cause one to forswear the realm, to banish. Obs.
1603. Drayton, Barons Warres, I. xv. T’ abjure those false Lords from the troubled Land.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. 90. He was onely abjured the Realm for ever.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., xxvi. 269. His life was pardoned; notwithstanding he was abjured the realm.
