də̇ˈpōz, dēˈ- verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English deposen, from Old French deposer, modification (influenced by poser to put, place) of Late Latin & Latin deponere (perfect stem depos- ); Late Latin deponere to remove from office or authority, from Latin, to lay aside, put down — more at depone
transitive verb
1. : to remove from a throne or other high position : divest or deprive of office or rank : dethrone
striving to depose the king in favor of his brother
deposed from his post as prime minister — Time
they deposed Philip Carteret as governor — American Guide Series: New Jersey
deposed as unfit to hold office
2. obsolete
a. : to take away : remove
b. : divest , dispossess
c. : to lay aside : divest oneself of
3. : to let fall : put down : deposit
she carelessly deposed costly trinkets on the table — Arnold Bennett
the practice … of deposing the sacrament in a carved recess — Francis Berry
4.
a.
[Middle English deposen, from Medieval Latin depos-, perfect stem of deponere to assert under oath, from Latin, to put down]
: to say under oath : testify ; especially : to give witness of by an affidavit or other sworn statement in writing
depose before the court that he had seen the man in the act of murder
b. : affirm , assert
a fat grocer was deposing that he thought it was I who had stolen five feet of pork sausages from him — Carolyn Hannay
c. obsolete : to put under oath : call upon as witness
intransitive verb
[Middle English deposen, from Medieval Latin depos-, perfect stem of deponere to assert under oath]
: to bear witness : make a deposition : testify
he was a bit shaky when it came his turn to depose
Synonyms: see swear