deponent

American  

[dih-poh-nuhnt] / dɪˈpoʊ nənt /

adjective

1. Classical Greek and Latin Grammar. (of a verb) appearing only in the passive or Greek middle-voice forms, but with active meaning.

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noun

1. Law. a person who testifies under oath, especially in writing.

2. Classical Greek and Latin Grammar. a deponent verb, as Latin loquor.

deponent British  

/ dɪˈpəʊnənt /

adjective

1. grammar (of a verb, esp in Latin) having the inflectional endings of a passive verb but the meaning of an active verb

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noun

1. grammar a deponent verb

2. law

   1. a person who makes an affidavit

   2. a person, esp a witness, who makes a deposition

Etymology

Origin of deponent

1520–30; < Latin dēpōnent- (stem of dēpōnēns ) putting away ( Medieval Latin: testifying), present participle of dēpōnere. See depone, -ent

Example Sentences

Deponent herewith stipulates that he will not challenge the Wachowski brothers' claim to have read Hesse, Homer, the Gnostic Bible and the comic books of Geof Darrow.

From Time Magazine Archive

About this time, there was a Rumour about the Town, that Martin had a Broken Head; but the Deponent could say nothing to that.

From The Wonders of the Invisible World Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches by Mather, Cotton

That when this Deponent and People were brought on board the Privateer they were all of them Searched and Money and Effects taken from the Several following Persons.

From Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Illustrative Documents by Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin)

Haddon did not offer to bring this Depont. and People to New York, for as was declared before He did not mention New York nor did this Deponent and People know he came from thence.

From Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Illustrative Documents by Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin)

That there never was any Agreement between this Deponent and his People with Rd Haddon or anything like it relating to the Money and Effects aforesaid.

From Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period Illustrative Documents by Jameson, J. Franklin (John Franklin)