Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'adjure'

English Word: adjure

Key Russian Translations:

• Умолять [ʊmɐˈlʲatʲ] - [Formal; Used in earnest appeals or solemn requests]
• Призывать [prʲɪˈzɨvətʲ] - [Formal; Often used in contexts of urging action or duty]

Frequency: Low (This verb is not commonly used in everyday Russian conversation but appears in literary or formal contexts.)

Difficulty: Intermediate (B2; Requires understanding of verb conjugations and formal language structures. For 'Умолять', it's B2; for 'Призывать', it's also B2 due to similar conjugation patterns.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Умолять: [ʊmɐˈlʲatʲ]

Note on Умолять: The stress falls on the second syllable ('lʲatʲ'), which is a common challenge for learners due to Russian's variable stress patterns. Pronounce with a soft 'l' sound.

Призывать: [prʲɪˈzɨvətʲ]

Note on Призывать: The initial 'prʲ' has a palatalized 'r', making it softer; stress is on the second syllable, and the vowel in the third syllable can vary slightly in rapid speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To earnestly and solemnly urge or advise someone

Translation(s) & Context:

• Умолять - Typically used in emotional or pleading contexts, such as begging for mercy or making a heartfelt request.
• Призывать - Applied in more official or motivational scenarios, like calling upon someone to fulfill a duty or take action.

Usage Examples:

• Он умолял друзей помочь ему в трудный момент.

  He adjured his friends to help him in a difficult moment.

• Врач призывала пациентов следовать строгому режиму.

  The doctor adjured the patients to follow a strict regimen.

• Мать умоляла сына не принимать рискованных решений.

  The mother adjured her son not to make risky decisions.

• Лидер призывал народ к единству в период кризиса.

  The leader adjured the people to unite during the crisis.

• Судья умолял обвиняемого сказать правду под присягой.

  The judge adjured the defendant to tell the truth under oath.

To command or warn solemnly

Translation(s) & Context:

• Умолять - In a more intense context, implying desperation or formality, often in legal or ethical appeals.
• Призывать - Used when issuing a formal warning or call to action, such as in speeches or official documents.

Usage Examples:

• Преподаватель умоляла студентов не списывать на экзамене.

  The teacher adjured the students not to cheat on the exam.

• Политик призывал граждан голосовать ответственно.

  The politician adjured citizens to vote responsibly.

• Друг умолял её избегать опасных районов города.

  The friend adjured her to avoid dangerous areas of the city.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'Умолять' and 'Призывать' are first-conjugation verbs in Russian, which means they follow regular patterns but have specific inflections based on tense, aspect, and person. Russian verbs like these are imperfective by nature, often paired with perfective counterparts (e.g., 'Умолить' for 'Умолять').

For 'Умолять' (to beg/adjure):

For 'Призывать' (to call upon/adjure):

These verbs are regular but note that past tense endings change based on gender (e.g., -л for masculine, -ла for feminine). They do not have irregular forms.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Просить (Prosit) - More general request, but less intense than Умолять.
  • Благать (Blagat') - Similar to Умолять, often used in desperate pleas; applicable in emotional contexts.
• Antonyms:
  • Отказываться (Otkazyvat'sya) - To refuse, directly opposing the idea of urging.
  • Запрещать (Zapreschat') - To forbid, contrasting with calling upon action.

Related Phrases:

• Умолять о помощи - (Beg for help; Used in situations requiring urgent assistance.)
• Призывать к порядку - (Call for order; Common in formal or authoritative settings like meetings.)
• Умолять на коленях - (Beg on one's knees; Implies extreme desperation in cultural or dramatic contexts.)

Usage Notes:

'Adjure' corresponds closely to 'Умолять' in emotional depth and 'Призывать' in formal authority, but Russian users often choose based on context: use 'Умолять' for personal pleas and 'Призывать' for public or official urgings. Be mindful of the imperfective aspect, which emphasizes ongoing action. In formal writing, pair with adverbs like 'искренне' (sincerely) to enhance tone. English learners should note that Russian verbs require aspect consideration—e.g., use perfective 'Умолить' for completed actions.

• Grammar tip: These verbs take the accusative case for direct objects, e.g., "Умолять кого-то" (adjure someone).
• Context guidance: 'Призывать' is ideal for motivational speeches, while 'Умолять' suits literature or interpersonal drama.

Common Errors:

English learners often confuse 'Умолять' with 'Просить', using the latter in overly formal contexts where 'Умолять' would convey more intensity. For example:

• Incorrect: "Я прошу тебя помочь" (when a strong plea is needed) - This sounds too neutral.
• Correct: "Я умоляю тебя помочь" - Better for earnest adjuring, as it matches the solemnity of 'adjure'.
• Another error: Misconjugating the past tense, e.g., saying "Умолялa" for a male subject. Explanation: Always match gender and number in past tense forms to avoid grammatical errors.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like 'Умолять' often appear in literature (e.g., Dostoevsky's works) to depict deep emotional appeals, reflecting the value placed on sincerity and passion in interpersonal relationships. 'Призывать' is frequently used in historical contexts, such as Soviet-era speeches, symbolizing calls to collective action and duty.

Related Concepts:

• Просьба (Prosbа) - Request
• Благословение (Blagoslovenie) - Blessing
• Призыв (Priziv) - Summons or call