Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Being a verb of active meaning but passive or middle form, as certain Latin and Greek verbs.
  • noun Grammar A deponent verb.
  • noun Law One who gives testimony by affidavit or deposition.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Laying down.
  • noun In Latin grammar, a deponent verb.
  • noun One who deposes or makes a deposition, especially under oath; one who makes an affidavit; one who gives written testimony to be used as evidence in a court of justice, or for any other purpose. Abbreviated dpt.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Law) One who deposes or testifies under oath; one who gives evidence; usually, one who testifies in writing.
  • noun (Gr. & Lat. Gram.) A deponent verb.
  • adjective (Gram.) Having a passive form with an active meaning, as certain latin and Greek verbs.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective of a Latin verb Having passive form (that is, conjugating like the passive voice), but an active meaning. (Such verbs, originally reflexive, are considered to have laid aside their passive meanings.) Examples include sequor and loquor (confer the category of Latin deponent verbs)
  • noun law A witness; especially one who gives information under oath, in a deposition concerning facts known to him or her.
  • noun A deponent verb.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a person who testifies or gives a deposition

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Late Latin (verbum) dēpōnēns, (verbum) dēpōnent-, deponent (verb), present participle of Latin dēpōnere, to put down; see depone.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin dēpōnēns ("laying aside"), the present active participle of dēpōnō ("lay aside"), from de- + pōnō ("put, place").

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Examples

  • The deponent was the policeman, and the sum of United States currency was one dollar.

    Archive 2005-08-01 2005

  • CLINTON: Because that is -- if the deponent is the person who has oral sex performed on him, then the contact is with -- not with anything on that list, but with the lips of another person.

    CNN Transcript Aug 5, 2001 2001

  • The contents of the paper was skilfully worded so as to convey the impression that the deponent was a woman of somewhat doubtful character herself, but that on the other hand she had been tricked by the defendant into a secret -- and what he intended to be a temporary -- marriage.

    The Confessions of Artemas Quibble Arthur Cheney Train 1910

  • The subject of the deposition is called the deponent, and on this particular day the deponent was

    Chicago Reader 2010

  • But they were going to do without us, and they did so; but whether ill or well, this deponent, meaning "We," knoweth not; and so, we're like Brer Rabbit, who lay low and said nothin '.

    Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, July 30, 1892 Various

  • It must be remembered that the testimony was not upon oath, and that the deponent was a ruffian.]

    The Works of Christopher Marlowe, Vol. 3 (of 3) Christopher Marlowe 1578

  • Our opposing counsel were dead asleep in nappy nap land by the time Jeff whispered, essentially, “Did you infringe our patent?” and the deponent responded in another whisper, “Yeah, I guess so.”

    PIG’S FEET is the new MUSLIM frankwu 2009

  • Irrespective of the profession of the intended deponent, discovery even of relevant evidence is subject to the balancing calculus, articulated in Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, that measures value against burden.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Journalist’s Privilege, Candlestick Maker’s Privilege, “a Curious Unreality,” and Piling Pelion Upon Ossa 2010

  • Concerning further details deponent sayeth not, though he may hint that some of his plethoric national patriotism simmered down and leaked out of the bottom of his soul somewhere -- at least, since that experience he finds that he cares more for men and women and little children than for imaginary geographical lines.

    How I Became a Socialist 2010

  • Concerning further details deponent sayeth not, though he may hint that some of his plethoric national patriotism simmered down and leaked out of the bottom of his soul somewhere -- at least, since that experience he finds that he cares more for men and women and little children than for imaginary geographical lines.

    HOW I BECAME A SOCIALIST 2010

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