Word of the day: ENJOIN

Pronunciation: en·join UK /ɪnˈdʒɔɪn/ US /ɪnˈdʒɔɪn/

Meaning

'Enjoin' is a formal and authoritative verb that means to instruct, command, or urge someone to do (or not do) something, often with a sense of moral duty, responsibility, or legal power behind the order.

Origin and History

The word enjoin originates from the Old French word ‘enjoindre’, which in turn comes from the Latin ‘injungere’, meaning to fasten to or to impose upon.

It combines the Latin prefix in- (upon) with jungere (to join).

Thus, the idea behind enjoin is to “join someone to a command”, binding them through duty or obligation.

Cultural significance and modern usage

In legal and administrative contexts, enjoin carries a strong sense of authority. For example, a court may enjoin someone from performing an act, meaning it legally prohibits them from doing so.

“The court enjoined the company from releasing the product until safety checks were complete.”

In religious or moral traditions, enjoin often expresses divine or ethical commands — duties enjoined by scripture, law, or conscience.

“Charity and kindness are enjoined upon all believers.”

In modern spoken English, it’s more formal and often appears in written or official communication rather than casual speech.

Idioms and Phrases

Be enjoined to do something:To be officially or morally obligated to carry out an action.

Example: Citizens are enjoined to respect the laws of their nation.

Enjoin silence: This means to command quiet or calm and is often used by teachers, leaders, or judges.

Example: The teacher enjoined silence before beginning the lesson.

Interesting facts

The term injunction, used in law to refer to a court order, shares the same Latin root injungere.

In mediaeval times, 'enjoining penance' was a common phrase used by priests after confession; they enjoined certain prayers or actions for spiritual cleansing.

Also read word of the day

Examples from literature

  • “As might be expected, Serjeant Clippinger had no interest in the case, and enjoined me to cease my prim bickering.- The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II by M.T. Anderson
  • “But the swineherd calmly stood near Penelope, whispering what her son had bade him tell and what he had enjoined on her.”-The Odyssey by Homer

Synonyms

  • Order
  • Command
  • Direct
  • Urge
  • Charge

Antonyms

  • Forbid
  • Prohibit
  • Dissuade
  • Discourage
  • Release

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