enjoin
Meaning
to legally order someone to do something or to stop doing something.
to strongly urge or advise someone to do something.
Structure
Usage
the court may enjoin the company from polluting the river.
i was enjoined by my doctor to get more rest.
the agreement enjoins both parties to act in good faith.
Etymology
the word 'enjoin' entered middle english from old french 'enjoindre', which itself derived from latin 'iniungere', a compound of 'in-' (upon) and 'iungere' (to join). the original latin sense was 'to impose (an obligation) upon someone', literally 'to join or attach a command to a person'. this legalistic notion of attaching a duty evolved into the modern dual meanings: the authoritative legal command and the strong, urgent advice. the core logic connects the act of 'joining' an order to an individual with the resulting imperative to act or refrain.
Analysis
en- (from latin, a prefix meaning 'in, on, to put into a state'); join (from latin iungere, meaning 'to join, yoke, unite').