Definition of enjoin in English:

verb

• 1Instruct or urge (someone) to do something.

  with object and infinitive ‘the code enjoined members to trade fairly’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The code also enjoins the rebels and the government to refrain from any provocative acts such as arrests, kidnapping and extortion.’
  • ‘More than three decades passed before Lewis enjoined his readers to utilize dumb-bells as instruments that would benefit their lungs, improve the condition of their hearts, and enhance their vigor.’
  • ‘They enjoin members to be ‘gentle and compassionate, kind and courteous’.’
  • ‘Members are enjoined to study and to teach others.’
  • ‘This wonderful statement enjoins us to understand that in political matters there can be no single ‘university position’ or voice.’
  • ‘In general, it enjoins us to refrain from all aggression and fraud, since both are seen as violations of human dignity, ways of fashioning human beings into tools for one's own ends.’
  • ‘Then a female voice breaks in with an advisory about the traffic jam, during which she enjoins drivers already trapped to give lifts to pedestrians.’
  • ‘I worked once on a research vessel in the Bahamas, and each afternoon at about three, a pod of dolphins surrounded the boat, enjoining us to come play.’
  • ‘At the same time, the ordinary workers were enjoined to toil even harder and sacrifice ever more in the name of national development.’
  • ‘He enjoined investors to change their attitude and become socially responsible to improve ordinary people's quality of life.’

  Synonyms

  urge, encourage, try to persuade, adjure, admonish, press, prompt, prod, goad, egg on, spur, push, pressure, put pressure on, use pressure on, pressurize, lean on

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  1. 1.1Prescribe (an action or attitude) to be performed or adopted.
     ‘the charitable deeds enjoined on him by religion’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Fasting is one of the five ‘pillars of Islam’ and is enjoined on everyone who has reached puberty.’
     • ‘All happens only by the will of Allah and the acceptance of this reality is enjoined on the believers.’
     • ‘The first is to explain why - if moral action is a hindrance to nirvana - the texts continually enjoin the performance of good deeds.’
     Synonyms

     stipulate, lay down, dictate, specify, impose, set down, determine, establish, fix, formulate, appoint, decree, order, command, pronounce, ordain, require, direct, enjoin, make provision for, promulgate

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  2. 1.2enjoin someone fromLaw Prohibit someone from performing (a particular action) by issuing an injunction.
     ‘he was enjoined from using the patent’
     More example sentences

     • ‘In the meantime, Mr. Meyer is enjoined from in any way further interfering with the flow of water in the channel from the plaintiffs’ land across his land.’
     • ‘With respect to the military commissions, we were enjoined from going forward with military commissions by a district court order.’
     • ‘The Florida Supreme Court overruled her and enjoined her from certifying.’
     • ‘The hearing resulted in her being enjoined from having an abortion.’
     • ‘It's called separation of church and state; more explicitly, that our constitution specifically enjoins government from promoting one religion rather than another.’
     Synonyms

     prohibit, ban, bar, prevent, inhibit, interdict

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