deponent

[ dih-poh-nuhnt ]

See synonyms for deponent on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

noun

Law. a person who testifies under oath, especially in writing.
Classical Greek and Latin Grammar. a deponent verb, as Latin loquor.

Origin of deponent

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

Words Nearby deponent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use deponent in a sentence

And this deponent expressly declares, that every offer made by Major Andr to them was promptly and resolutely refused.
Notes and Queries, Number 240, June 3, 1854 | Various
Next day a friend of Duny's told deponent that a certain old woman was severely burned.
The Mysteries of All Nations | James Grant
On hearing this, deponent went to the old woman's house, and found her grievously scorched.
The Mysteries of All Nations | James Grant
Subsequently Jones told deponent that ever since the old hag kissed his hand he felt ill.
The Mysteries of All Nations | James Grant
Filmore spoke to this deponent several times about rising upon the Pyrates, whilst this Depont.
Privateering and Piracy in the Colonial Period | Various

British Dictionary definitions for deponent

deponent

/ (dɪˈpəʊnənt) /

adjective

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

noun

grammar a deponent verb
law
- a person who makes an affidavit
- a person, esp a witness, who makes a deposition

Origin of deponent

C16: from Latin dēpōnēns putting aside, putting down, from dēpōnere to put down, 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

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