[ab.jure] vt ab.jured ; ab.jur.ing [ME, fr. MF or L; MF abjurer, fr. L abjurare, fr. ab- + jurare to swear--more at jury] (15c) 1 a: to renounce upon oath b: to reject solemnly
2: to abstain from: avoid "~ extravagance" -- ab.jur.er n syn abjure, renounce, forswear, recant, retract mean to withdraw one's word or professed belief. abjure implies a firm and final rejecting or abandoning often made under oath "abjured the errors of his former faith". renounce often equals abjure but may carry the meaning of disclaim or disown "renounced abstract art and turned to portrait painting". forswear may add to abjure an implication of perjury or betrayal "I cannot forswear my principles". recant stresses the withdrawing or denying of something professed or taught "if they recant they will be spared". retract applies to the withdrawing of a promise, an offer, or an accusation "the newspaper had to retract its allegations against the mayor".