Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

depose

[dih-pohz]
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), de·posed, de·pos·ing.
  1. to remove from office or position, especially high office: The people deposed the dictator.
  2. to testify or affirm under oath, especially in a written statement: to depose that it was true.
  3. Law. to take the deposition of; examine under oath: Two lawyers deposed the witness.
verb (used without object), de·posed, de·pos·ing.
  1. to give sworn testimony, especially in writing.

Origin of depose

1250–1300; Middle English deposen < Old French deposer to put down, equivalent to de- de- + poser < Vulgar Latin *posāre, Late Latin pausāre; see pose1
Related formsde·pos·a·ble, adjectivede·pos·er, nounun·de·pos·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·posed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for depose

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • They had grumbled at their chief and mutinied against him and helped to depose him.

    The Grand Old Man

    Richard B. Cook

  • In the end they voted a resolution to depose the government, and to elect another.

    Hellenica

    Xenophon

  • At Dalradern, where she ruled as mistress, an accident, a word might depose her.

    Luttrell Of Arran

    Charles James Lever

  • For years back Miss Barrington had been plotting to depose Darby.

    Barrington

    Charles James Lever

  • The first witness to depose alleged a number of most damaging facts.

    The Gods are Athirst

    Anatole France

British Dictionary definitions for depose

depose

verb
  1. (tr) to remove from an office or position, esp one of power or rank
  2. law to testify or give (evidence, etc) on oath, esp when taken down in writing; make a deposition
Derived Formsdeposable, adjectivedeposer, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French deposer to put away, put down, from Late Latin dēpōnere to depose from office, from Latin: to put aside; see depone
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for depose

v.

c.1300, from Old French deposer (12c.), from de- "down" (see de-) + poser "put, place" (see pose (v.1)). Related: Deposed; deposing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper