conjure
UK[ˈkʌn.dʒər]US[ˈkʌn.dʒər]
v
To make something appear or happen as if by magic.
v
To bring a thought, image, or memory to the mind.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
jure
con
together, with
jure
to swear, to take an oath
Etymology
The word 'conjure' originates from the Old French 'conjurer', meaning "to invoke by oath, to conspire," which itself derives from the Latin 'conjurare'. This Latin verb is a compound of 'con-' (together) and 'jurare' (to swear), literally signifying "to swear together" or "to bind oneself by oath." In medieval and Renaissance Europe, this legal and solemn sense evolved to describe the act of invoking spirits or compelling them to appear by the power of a sacred oath or incantation. Over time, the emphasis shifted from the binding oath to the magical act of summoning, leading to its modern meanings of producing as if by magic or vividly bringing to mind.
Analysis
Structure: con + jure
- con: A Latin prefix meaning "together, with".
- jure: From Latin 'jurare', meaning "to swear, to take an oath".
Examples
The magician seemed to conjure a rabbit from an empty hat.
The old song conjured memories of her childhood summers.
He could conjure up a convincing excuse at a moment's notice.