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. (esp of a door or window) slightly open

ajar

²

/ əˈdʒɑː /

adjective

1. (postpositive) not in harmony

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

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

Origin of ajar²

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

Example Sentences

Despite this, India has refrained from imposing retaliatory tariffs against the US and has left the door ajar for further negotiations.

From BBC

At this point she said the garden was overgrown, there was mould on the windows - which were left ajar in winter - and the back gates were in need of repair.

From BBC

I was continually scaling walls and dragging him, covered in engine grease, out from under a car in the morning after he slipped out the front door left ajar.

From Los Angeles Times

Vatican sources say that was to keep the door for dialogue ajar, even when it seemed hopeless.

From BBC

The door to a pilot’s plane appeared to be ajar as it took off from Fullerton Airport, moments before it crashed into a warehouse, according to investigators.

From Los Angeles Times