/depose-definition

/depose/

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: dɪpəʊz. 

-) Etymology: from Old French déposer, modification (influenced by poser = to put, place) of Latin deponere, which is analysed into de- (from, away) + ponere (to put).

-) Preterite tense: deposed (dɪˈpəʊzd).

-) Preterite participle: deposed. Present participle: deposing.

-) Transitively: -) 1. Archaic: to lay down (anything corporeal).

-) 2. Obsolete: to put as a deposit, for safe keeping.

-) 3. Obsolete: to discontinue voluntarily (a feeling, quality, etc.).

-) 4. To prive (someone) of the office he performed as a chief, president, king, etc., by deposition.

-) Translation: déposer, in French; deponer, in Spanish; deporre, in Italian.

… they deposed him from the government of the kingdom.

Dodsley… The Kings of England… 1740

… the reluctant maiden found herself obliged to resign her authority, without enjoying the least pretext for complaining of her being deposed.

Smollett… The Adventures… 1751

… the working ants, having probably deposed their queens, and being deserted by the males, that served but to clog the community, prepare for the severity of the winter, and bury their retreats as deep in the earth as they conveniently can.

Oliver Goldsmith… Animated Nature… 1774

… Antonbey, who was then governor, and who had exercised his functions with much ability and beneficial effect, was, in consequence, deposed.

J. Galt… Voyages and travels… 1812

Edward the Second was deposed by the English Parliament.

Daniel Macintosh… History of Scotland… 1821

The insurgents had deposed the alcalde, appointed their own authorities.

J. Stephens… Incidents of Travel in Yucatan… 1848

-) With the preposition “from” + noun of the office:

They, again, offended at this disrespect to their jurisdiction, instantly, upon his appeal, deposed him from his professorship.

Arnot… The History of Edinburgh… 1788

Mr M'Naught was deposed from the ministry.

J. Lockhart… Life of… Scott… 1837

-) 5. To say under oath; to make a deposition by saying (the direct object is a clause introduced by “that”, or an infinitive):

-) Synonyms: testify, attest.

Four of the above-named witnesses, being recalled, deposed that the door of the chamber in which was found the body of Mademoiselle L. was locked on the inside when the party reached it.

E. Poe… Murders… 1841

She deposed: "I am the sister of the deceased, and reside about three miles from Hounslow.

George Reynolds… The mysteries of London 1844  

Another witness deposed that Martin Guerre was skilful in the use of weapons.

The Knickerbocker… 1858

-) Intransitively: to say something under oath; to make a deposition; to testify.

-) Translation: déposer, in French; deponer, in Spanish; deporre, in Italian.

-) With the preposition “for” or “against” + noun of a person:

The only witness that deposed against Sydney was lord Howard.

Oliver Goldsmith… The History of England… 1771

The result of the trial was, that the ship was declared to be Danish property, and the Captain cleared: the incompetency of the witnesses who deposed against the Captain and the property, having been pronounced by the Court.

Asiatic Annual Register, vol. I

-) With the preposition “to” + noun or gerund, or “against” + noun of a thing or a fact:

At the next sessions the trial came on, and the gentleman, the coach-man, and the footman deposed to every circumstance of the robbery as above related.

The Repository of arts, literature… 1824

At the renewed inquiry, however, there was no getting rid of the facts deposed to by the bailiff, and confirmed by Daniel's continual silence.

Banim… The Denounced… 1830

Meanwhile, Ruth deposed to what she had heard of the midnight conference at her mother's window, and Halliday to what had taken place in the wagon-shed.

Martineau… The Parish… 1833

The shot, the finding of the body, the subsequent discovery of the gun, were rapidly deposed to.    

Gaskell… A tale of Manchester life… 1848

One man deposed to having met a rough-looking fellow, half-gipsy, half-hawker, in the grove between seven and eight o'clock.

Braddon… Henry Dunbar… 1864

John Wood, a manufacturer, living at Dalston, near Huddersfield, deposed to having sent the parcel in question, containing the Valencias, to the address above mentioned.

Annual Register, vol. 72… 1831

-) Words derived from the verb “depose”: deposable, deposal, deposed, deposer, deposing, deposition, depositional, deponent.

-) Words derived from Latin ponere: see the verb REPOSE.