English
enjoin
Enjoin comes from Old French enjoindre ‘to join with’, from Latin iniungo ‘to attach’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *yewg- ‘to join, to yoke, to tie together’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*yewg-‘to join, to yoke, to tie together’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*yunégti‘to be joining’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*jungō‘to yoke’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEiungō‘to join, unite, fasten, yoke, harness, attach’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEiniungo‘to attach’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400enjoindre‘to join with’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500enjoinen
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598enjoin
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*yewg-‘to join, to yoke, to tie together’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*yunégti‘to be joining’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*jungō‘to yoke’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEiungō‘to join, unite, fasten, yoke, harness, attach’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEiniungo‘to attach’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400enjoindre‘to join with’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500enjoinen
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1598enjoin
Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1598, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice: “I am enjoin'd by oath to observe three things”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *yewg- ‘to join, to yoke, to tie together’
yoga, joint, yogi, injunction, yoke, jodi, jugular, conjugate, conjugation, rejoin, subjugate, zygote, yojana, yuga, 34 more
through Proto-Italic *jungō ‘to yoke’
conjunction, disjunction, 9 more
through Latin iungō ‘to join, unite, fasten, yoke, harness, attach’
junction, junta, adjunct, juncture, juxtaposition, adjoining, subjunctive, conjunct, joiner, jostle, disjoint, adjoint, 12 more
Today it means
verb To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *yewg- / enjoin