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To '''''adjure''''' is to solemnly command, with legitimate authority, a person who is under [[oath]] to comply; often, in a court of law, to bind, urge, compel, under threat of serious legal penalty or curse, truthful testimony, without distortion or concealment. The act of lawfully adjuring is called '''adjuration'''.<ref>[[St. Thomas Aquinas]] took up the question of lawful adjuration in his [[Summa Theologica]]. <br> [https://dhspriory.org/thomas/summa/SS/SS090.html '''St. Thomas Aquinas - The Summa Theologica. Of the Taking of God's Name by Way of Adjuration (Three Articles). Second Part of the Second Part, Question 90''' (dhspriory.org)] ''scroll down the page''</ref>  

To '''''adjure''''' is to solemnly command, with legitimate authority, a person who is under [[oath]] to comply; often, in a court of law, to bind, urge, compel, under threat of serious legal penalty or curse, truthful testimony, without distortion or concealment. The act of lawfully adjuring is called '''adjuration'''.<ref>[[St. Thomas Aquinas]] took up the question of lawful adjuration in his [[Summa Theologica]]. <br> [https://dhspriory.org/thomas/summa/SS/SS090.html '''St. Thomas Aquinas - The Summa Theologica. Of the Taking of God's Name by Way of Adjuration (Three Articles). Second Part of the Second Part, Question 90''' (dhspriory.org)] —''scroll down the page to see all three articles''</ref>  

In the [[United States of America|U.S.A.]] up until near the end of the 20th century, witnesses in a court of law would be instructed to place their left hand on a [[Bible]], raise their right hand, and solemnly [[Swearing in|swear]] to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, "so help me, God." This was an [[oath]], calling upon God Almighty to bear witness to the truthfulness or falsity ([[perjury]]) of the testimony and to punish the false witness who lied or who withheld vitally relevant information.  

In the [[United States of America|U.S.A.]] up until near the end of the 20th century, witnesses in a court of law would be instructed to place their left hand on a [[Bible]], raise their right hand, and solemnly [[Swearing in|swear]] to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, "so help me, God." This was an [[oath]], calling upon God Almighty to bear witness to the truthfulness or falsity ([[perjury]]) of the testimony and to punish the false witness who lied or who withheld vitally relevant information.