Learn English – How does the word “enjoin” come to have two opposite meanings

etymologymeaning

By the Cambridge Dictionary

  • To ​legally ​forbid or ​stop something by ​order of a ​court

  • Enjoin also ​means to ​order or ​strongly ​encourage someone to do something

By the Oxford Dictionary

  • Instruct or urge (someone) to do something
  • Law Prohibit someone from performing by issuing an injunction

So basically, "He is enjoined to stop" can mean either way.

Best Answer

Enjoin: : the common usage is from the old French "enjoindre", impose:

  • [often passive] enjoin somebody to do something enjoin something (formal) to order or strongly advise someone to do something; to say that a particular action or quality is necessary.

The other meaning is only of legal usage and is related to an injunction:

  • To direct, require, command, or admonish.

  • Enjoin connotes a degree of urgency, as when a court enjoins one party in a lawsuit by ordering the person to do, or refrain from doing, something to prevent permanent loss to the other party or parties. This type of order is known as an Injunction.

  • enjoin somebody from doing something (law) to legally prevent someone from doing something, for example with an injunction (= official order)

Enjoin (v.): etymology:.

  • c. 1200, engoinen, "to prescribe, impose" (penance, etc.), from stem of Old French enjoindre (12c.) "impose (on), inflict; subject to; assign (to)," from Latin iniungere "to join, fasten, attach;" figuratively "to inflict, to attack, impose," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + iungere "to join" (see jugular).
Related Topic