/di poh"neuhnt/ , adj.
1. Class. Gk. and Latin Gram. (of a verb) appearing only in the passive or Greek middle-voice forms, but with active meaning.
n.
2. Law. a person who testifies under oath, esp. in writing.
3. Class. Gk. and Latin Gram. a deponent verb, as Latin loquor.
[ 1520-30; deponent- (s. of deponens ) putting away (ML: testifying), prp. of deponere. See DEPONE, -ENT ]