ajar

Etymology 1

From Middle English ajar, on char (“on [the] turn”), from on (“on”) + char (“turn, occasion”), from Old English ċierr, cyrr (“turn”), from ċierran (“to turn, convert”), equivalent to a- + char. Akin to Scots char, chare (“to turn, cause to turn”), Dutch akerre, kier (“ajar”), German kehren (“to turn”). See char.

adv

1. Slightly turned or opened.
   The door was standing ajar.

adj

1. Slightly turned or opened.
   The door is ajar.

verb

1. (rare, perhaps nonstandard) To turn or open slightly; to become ajar or to cause to become ajar; to be or to hang ajar.
   A plainclothes detective knocked on a slightly ajarred door. 1970, John H. Evans, Mercer County law journal, volume 10
   Yes, and the door also lops off stairs leading to a landing on whose landing is another door on whose hinges much of this story ajars, if it hasn't jarred too much already. 1977, Bill Reed, Dogod
   Just as the gates fully ajarred themselves, the Lamborghini soared through them, and out into the freedom of the poorly defined road. 2007, Loki, Shard of the Ancient

Etymology 2

a- (“in, at”) + jar (“discord, disagreement”)

adv

1. (archaic) Out of harmony.
2. Being at variance or in contradiction to something.
   There is a sort of unexpressed concern, / A kind of shock that sets one's heart ajar […]. 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, II.14

verb

1. (rare, perhaps nonstandard) To show variance or contradiction with something; to be or cause to be askew.
   It clean deafened the two of us, and set all the crockery ware ajarring ; and when the neighbours heard it they came running into the street to see who was getting hurt. 1907, The English Illustrated Magazine, volume 36