Urge to do something (6) - Crossword Clue
Answer: ENJOIN
Understanding ENJOIN as "Urge to Do Something"
- ENJOIN means to urge, instruct, or direct someone strongly to do something. When you enjoin someone, you're essentially commanding or ordering them with authority to take a specific action.
- This formal verb captures the sense of pressing someone to act, making it a perfect fit for crossword clues about urging or compelling behavior.
Related Terms and Usage
- Enjoin shares semantic space with several related terms: exhort (to strongly encourage), implore (to beg earnestly), beseech (to ask urgently), and adjure (to command solemnly).
- However, enjoin carries a more authoritative tone than mere encouragement. You might see it used in sentences like "The teacher enjoined students to complete their assignments" or "Officials enjoined citizens to evacuate immediately."
- The verb appears frequently in formal writing, legal documents, and literary contexts. Its Latin roots (injungere, meaning "to join or attach") explain why the word conveys a sense of binding someone to an action or obligation.
Tips for Solving Similar Clues
- Look for letter patterns: Six-letter words starting with "EN-" often involve making something happen (enable, enrich, ensure). The "-OIN" ending is less common but distinctive.
- Consider formal synonyms: Crossword puzzles love formal vocabulary. When clues mention "urge," "direct," or "command," think of elevated language rather than casual terms like "tell" or "ask."
- Context matters: The word "urge" can range from gentle persuasion to forceful command. ENJOIN sits toward the stronger end of this spectrum.
- Letter frequency helps: The letter J appears in only 0.15% of English words, making it a valuable anchor when solving. If you have E_JO__, ENJOIN becomes a strong candidate.
Urge to do something (6) - 7 Little Words - FAQs
Q: Is ENJOIN the same as ENJOY?
A: No, these are completely different words. ENJOY means to take pleasure in something, while ENJOIN means to direct or command someone to do something. They share similar spelling but have unrelated meanings.
Q: Can ENJOIN mean to prohibit?
A: Yes, in legal terminology, enjoin can mean to prohibit through a court injunction. However, crossword clues typically use its primary meaning: to urge or direct someone to take action.
Q: What are other six-letter words meaning "urge"?
A: Alternatives include EXHORT (though it means to strongly encourage rather than command), COMPEL (to force), and IMPELS (drives forward). Context and crossing letters determine which fits best.
Q: How common is ENJOIN in crossword puzzles?
A: ENJOIN appears regularly in medium to challenging crosswords because of its useful letter pattern, formal tone, and the J providing valuable crossing help for solvers.
Q: What's a simple way to remember ENJOIN?
A: Think "EN (make) + JOIN (connect)" - you're connecting someone to an obligation or duty by urging them to act. The word essentially "joins" a person to a required action.
