Depose

(de-pōz'), v. t. [imp. & p. p. DEPOSED; p. pr. & vb. n. DEPOSING.] [Fr. déposer, from Lat. deponere, depositum, from de and ponere, to put, place; Pr. depausar, to divest of office, O. Sp. deposar, to give evidence in court. Though the Fr. déposer agrees in sense with the Lat. deponere, yet its form has been influenced by Fr. poser, from Lat. pausare. Cf. DEPONE and POSE.]

1Sense 1. To lay down; to divest one's self of; to lay aside. [Obs.]

Thus when the state one Edward did depose, A greater Edward in his room arose. Dryden.

2Sense 2. To let fall; to deposit. [Obs.] “Additional mud deposed upon it.” Woodward.

3Sense 3. To reduce from a throne or other high station; to dethrone; to degrade; to divest of office.

A tyrant over his subjects, and therefore worthy to be deposed. Prynne.

4Sense 4. To bear written testimony to; to aver upon oath. “To depose the yearly rent or valuation of lands.” Bacon.

5Sense 5. To take the testimony of; to examine as a sworn witness. [Obs.]

Depose him in the justice of his cause. Shak.

v. i. To bear witness; to testify by deposition. Seeing ’twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is frivolous and vain. Shak.