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ajar - What does it mean?

Definition of 'ajar'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) ajar, . See char.

Adverb

(-)
  • Slightly turned or opened.
  • The door was standing ajar.

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Slightly turned or opened.
  • The door is ajar.
    When is a door not a door? When it is ajar .
    The pantry door was ajar , so I opened it and took out the jamb.

    Verb

    (ajarr)
  • To turn or open slightly; to become ajar or to cause to become ajar; to be or to hang ajar.
  • * 1970 , John H. Evans, Mercer County law journal , Volume 10,
  • A plainclothes detective knocked on a slightly ajarred door.
  • * 1977 , Bill Reed, Dogod ,
  • Yes, and the door also lops off stairs leading to a landing on whose landing is another door on whose hinges much of this story ajars , if it hasn't jarred too much already.
  • * 2007 , Loki, Shard of the Ancient ,
  • Just as the gates fully ajarred themselves, the Lamborghini soared through them, and out into the freedom of the poorly defined road.

    Etymology 2

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (label) Out of harmony.
  • Being at variance or in contradiction to something.
  • * 1819 , Lord Byron, Don Juan , II.14:
  • There is a sort of unexpressed concern, / A kind of shock that sets one's heart ajar [...].

    Verb

  • To show variance or contradiction with something; to be or cause to be askew.
  • * 1907 , The English Illustrated Magazine , Volume 36,
  • 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.

    Anagrams

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