From Middle English ajar, on char (“on [the] turn”), from on (“on”) + char (“turn, occasion”), from Old English ċierr, cyrr (“turn”), from ċierran (“to turn, convert”), equivalent to a- + char. Akin to Scots char, chare (“to turn, cause to turn”), Dutch akerre, kier (“ajar”), German kehren (“to turn”). See char.
Meanings
Slightly turned or opened.
I know—for Death, who comes for me
From regions of the blest afar,
Where there is nothing to deceive,
Hath left his iron gate ajar, […] 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:
The door is ajar.
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most ajar
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
achar
Scotland, alternative
lexicographic
more ajar
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
Translations (34)
ulw yurahka (slightly turned or opened) · sh одшкринут (slightly turned or opened) · es entreajustado (slightly turned or opened) · da på klem (slightly turned or opened) · nn på gløtt (slightly turned or opened) · fr entrebâillé (slightly turned or opened) · sh odškrinuto (slightly turned or opened) · fi raollaan (slightly turned or opened) · fr entrouvert (slightly turned or opened) · ru приоткры́тый (slightly turned or opened) · bg открехнат (slightly turned or opened) · fa نیمهباز (slightly turned or opened) · sk pootvorený (slightly turned or opened) · cs pootevřený (slightly turned or opened) · es entreabierto (slightly turned or opened) · pt entreaberto (slightly turned or opened) · pl uchylony (slightly turned or opened) · nb på gløtt (slightly turned or opened) · es entornado (slightly turned or opened) · es juntado (slightly turned or opened) · is opinn til hálfs (slightly turned or opened) · ro întredeschis (slightly turned or opened) · mi matata (slightly turned or opened) · pl niedomknięty (slightly turned or opened) · sh odškrinut (slightly turned or opened) · nl op een kier (slightly turned or opened) · es entrecerrado (slightly turned or opened) · sk odchýlený (slightly turned or opened) · eo malfermetita (slightly turned or opened) · cmn 虚掩地 (slightly turned or opened) · cmn 半开地 (slightly turned or opened) · is opinn í hálfa gátt (slightly turned or opened) · sv på glänt (slightly turned or opened) · de angelehnt (slightly turned or opened)
From Middle English ajar, on char (“on [the] turn”), from on (“on”) + char (“turn, occasion”), from Old English ċierr, cyrr (“turn”), from ċierran (“to turn, convert”), equivalent to a- + char. Akin to Scots char, chare (“to turn, cause to turn”), Dutch akerre, kier (“ajar”), German kehren (“to turn”). See char.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Slightly turned or opened.
The door was standing ajar.
Forms
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achar
Scotland, alternative
lexicographic
Translations (29)
es entreabiertamente (slightly turned or opened) · da på klem (slightly turned or opened) · oc entrebadat (slightly turned or opened) · fr entrebâillé (slightly turned or opened) · da klem (slightly turned or opened) · fi raollaan (slightly turned or opened) · fr entrouvert (slightly turned or opened) · is í hálfa gátt (slightly turned or opened) · bg открехнат (slightly turned or opened) · eo malfermete (slightly turned or opened) · oc entredobèrt (slightly turned or opened) · ru приоткры́тый (slightly turned or opened) · es entrecerradamente (slightly turned or opened) · pt entreaberto (slightly turned or opened) · sh odškrinut (slightly turned or opened) · nb på gløtt (slightly turned or opened) · fa نیمهلا (slightly turned or opened) · es entornadamente (slightly turned or opened) · ro întredeschis (slightly turned or opened) · mi matata (slightly turned or opened) · nl op een kier (slightly turned or opened) · it socchiuso (slightly turned or opened) · cmn 虚掩地 (slightly turned or opened) · cmn 半开地 (slightly turned or opened) · es juntadamente (slightly turned or opened) · ja 少し開いて (slightly turned or opened) · sv på glänt (slightly turned or opened) · izh rakoisillaa (slightly turned or opened) · de angelehnt (slightly turned or opened)
From Middle English ajar, on char (“on [the] turn”), from on (“on”) + char (“turn, occasion”), from Old English ċierr, cyrr (“turn”), from ċierran (“to turn, convert”), equivalent to a- + char. Akin to Scots char, chare (“to turn, cause to turn”), Dutch akerre, kier (“ajar”), German kehren (“to turn”). See char.
Meanings
(intransitive, qualifier:perhaps nonstandard, rare, transitive) To turn or open slightly; to become ajar or to cause to become ajar; to be or to hang ajar.
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. 1977, Bill Reed, Dogod:
A plainclothes detective knocked on a slightly ajarred door. 1970, John H. Evans, Mercer County law journal, volume 10:
Just as the gates fully ajarred themselves, the Lamborghini soared through them, and out into the freedom of the poorly defined road. 2007, Loki, Shard of the Ancient:
From a- (“in, at”) + jar (“discord, disagreement”).
Meanings
(archaic, not-comparable) Out of harmony.
(not-comparable) Being at variance or in contradiction to something.
There is a sort of unexpressed concern, / A kind of shock that sets one's heart ajar […]. 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.14:
Translations (4)
is úr takti (Being at variance or in contradiction to something) · is úr samræmi (Being at variance or in contradiction to something) · is í ósamræmi (Being at variance or in contradiction to something) · fi ei sopusoinnussa (Being at variance or in contradiction to something)
From a- (“in, at”) + jar (“discord, disagreement”).
Meanings
(intransitive, qualifier:perhaps nonstandard, rare) To show variance or contradiction with something; to be or cause to be askew.
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. 1907, The English Illustrated Magazine, volume 36: