ajar

¹

[ uh-jahr ]

adjective

1. neither entirely open nor entirely shut; partly open:

   The door was ajar.

ajar

²

[ uh-jahr ]

adverb

1. in contradiction to; at variance with:

   a story ajar with the facts.

ajar

¹

/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

1. postpositive not in harmony

ajar

²

/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

1. (esp of a door or window) slightly open

Word History and Origins

Origin of ajar¹

1350–1400; Middle English on char on the turn; a- ¹, char ³

Origin of ajar²

1545–55; for at jar at discord; jar ³ (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ajar¹

C19: altered form of at jar at discord. See jar ²

Origin of ajar²

C18: altered form of obsolete on char, literally: on the turn; char, from Old English cierran to turn

Example Sentences

"Looking at the enormity of the occasion and the achievement, I was walking along the corridor and the door of the Munich dressing-room door was slightly ajar," he said.

From BBC

Rice pudding was strewn all over the kitchen, the cell doors were ajar.

From BBC

Sparks guard Kia Nurse made just one of two free throws with 7.6 seconds left, leaving the door ajar for the Mystics.

From Los Angeles Times

But only after wee wobbles had left it ajar to those vying for glory.

From BBC

He does leave the door ajar, saying, “I’m a business person. If someone gets really stupid, then you have to go.”

From Los Angeles Times