Past tense of 'depone': to testify or give evidence under oath, especially in a legal proceeding.
From Latin 'deponere' (to put down, lay aside), combining 'de-' (down) and 'ponere' (to place). In legal contexts, it evolved to mean 'to testify' because witnesses would formally lay down their statements.
This is a Scottish and legal term that's rarely used in everyday English, but it's fascinating because the same Latin root 'ponere' gave us 'compose,' 'deposit,' and 'postpone'—all about putting things in specific places or positions.
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