ajar
adverb
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L15854 on Wikidata ↗adjective
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L15855 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈd͡ʒɑː/ / /əˈd͡ʒɑɹ/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English ajar, on char (“on [the] turn”), from on (“on”) + char (“turn, occasion”), from Old English ċierr, cyrr (“turn”), from ċierran (“to turn, convert”), equivalent to a- + char. Akin to Scots char, chare (“to turn, cause to turn”), Dutch akerre, kier (“ajar”), German kehren (“to turn”). See char.
- Slightly turned or opened.
“The door is ajar.”
“I know—for Death, who comes for me From regions of the blest afar, Where there is nothing to deceive, Hath left his iron gate ajar, […]”
adv
Etymology: Etymology tree English a- English jar English ajar From a- (“in, at”) + jar (“discord, disagreement”).
- Out of harmony.
- Being at variance or in contradiction to something.
“There is a sort of unexpressed concern, / A kind of shock that sets one's heart ajar […].”
noun
Etymology: From Georgian აჭარლები (ač̣arlebi).
- Synonym of Adjaran.
“The Ajars are Muslim Georgians and have their own autonomous republic within Georgia, but Georgians insist that there are no important distinctions between Ajars and Georgians […]”
“During World War II Stalin drew up a plan for the deportation of the Muslim Ajars, but the plan was postponed and finally abandoned at his death in 1953.”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree English a- English jar English ajar From a- (“in, at”) + jar (“discord, disagreement”).
- To show variance or contradiction with something; to be or cause to be askew.
“It clean deafened the two of us, and set all the crockery ware ajarring ; and when the neighbours heard it they came running into the street to see who was getting hurt.”