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to cross-question

to cross-question

1 7.5
To question a witness closely in court after the other side questions them
  • verb
  • /ˈkrɔsˌkwɛsʧən/
  • Jargon
: contrainterrogar
  • During the trial, the prosecutor had the chance to cross-question the defendant about his alibi.

Examples

  • The attorney began to cross-question the witness to clarify several inconsistencies in his statements.

  • "If everyone is against me," said Lady Tarleton, "if I must be cross-questioned like a common felon, then of course I have no choice but to submit.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Oh, yes, cross-question him, pick his brains?

  • Then I prepared to cross-question him rigidly, for this thing was getting serious.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • After the initial questioning, the lawyer sought to cross-question the witness to uncover the truth.

Synonyms

to question
vsto cross-question
375 1.0

To ask someone questions to get information

is much narrower and formal, used for close courtroom witness asking
to interrogate
vsto cross-question
  • Formal
158 6.5

To question someone carefully and formally to get information

is focused on courtroom witness asking after the other side has asked
to cross-examine
vsto cross-question
  • Formal
47 7.2

To question a witness in court after the other side asks them

has identical meaning but is the alternative legal phrasing
to examine
vsto cross-question
  • Formal
45 3.1

To ask someone many questions in a formal way to find out facts

is narrower, used specifically for courtroom witness asking after opposition

Antonyms

996 1.3

To believe or agree that something is true

How Closely

to interrogate
  • Formal
158 6.5
to grill
  • Informal
63 4.9
to cross-question
  • Jargon
1 7.5
to question
932 3.5
to ask
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

cross-question infinitive
cross-questioned past participle
cross-questioning present participle
cross-questions third person singular

Morphology

cross-question = cross + question (semi-transparent) = cross + question

The word is built from clearly recognizable parts, but the legal sense 'question closely in opposition' is somewhat specialized rather than fully literal.

Etymology

Cross-question comes from cross ('against') plus question ('ask'), and is like the phrase cross-examine. So to cross-question someone is to ask them tough questions that go against their earlier answers to test if they are true.