depone

verb

de·​pone di-ˈpōn 

deponed; deponing

: testify

Did you know?

I, Maureen Watt, depone aat I wull be leal and bear ae full alleadgance tae Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, swore the newly-elected Member of the Scottish Parliament in the dialect of the North-East of Scotland. (Translation: "I swear that I will be loyal and bear full allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.") Depone, a word used in Scots law for "testify" since the 15th century, is perfectly at home in the oath. The word originated from Latin deponere, meaning "to put down." The related English verb depose, referring to testimony, entered the language through the same root the following century. Though used less frequently in American English than depose, depone is no stranger to the American court system.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin deponere, from Latin, to put down, from de- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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