Deponent: meaning, definitions and examples
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deponent
[ dɪˈpəʊnənt ]
legal term
A person who testifies under oath or affirmation, usually in a legal proceeding but outside of the courtroom, providing written testimony instead of appearing in person.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He was considered a deponent in the case, providing a sworn statement instead of attending the trial.
- The deponent's written testimony was submitted as evidence in the court proceedings.
grammar
A verb that has active meaning but passive form, often found in Latin and other languages.
Synonyms
passive-active verb
Examples of usage
- In Latin, the verb 'loquitur' is a deponent verb, meaning 'he speaks', but it has a passive form.
- The deponent verb 'confiditur' in Latin means 'he trusts', even though it has a passive form.
Translations
Translations of the word "deponent" in other languages:
🇵🇹 deponente
🇮🇳 गवाह
🇩🇪 Zeuge
🇮🇩 penyaksi
🇺🇦 декларант
🇵🇱 deponent
🇯🇵 供述者 (kyōjutsusha)
🇫🇷 déposant
🇪🇸 declarante
🇹🇷 tanık
🇰🇷 증언자 (jeung-eonja)
🇸🇦 المودع
🇨🇿 deponent
🇸🇰 deponent
🇨🇳 证人 (zhèngrén)
🇸🇮 izpovedovalec
🇮🇸 vitni
🇰🇿 куәгер
🇬🇪 დამკვირვებელი
🇦🇿 şahid
🇲🇽 declarante
Word origin
The word 'deponent' originates from the Latin word 'deponens', which means 'laying aside'. In ancient Rome, a deponent verb was seen as a verb that 'lays aside' its active voice form to take on a passive meaning. Over time, the term expanded to include legal contexts, referring to a person who provides written testimony under oath. The use of 'deponent' in grammar and law has evolved, reflecting its dual meanings in different fields.