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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
570 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
142 6.5

To question someone carefully and formally to get information

is focused on courtroom witness asking after the other side has asked
to examine
vsto cross-question
  • Formal
53 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
to cross-examine
vsto cross-question
  • Formal
28 7.2

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

has identical meaning but is the alternative legal phrasing

Antonyms

∞ 1.3

To believe or agree that something is true

How Closely

to interrogate
  • Formal
142 6.5
to grill
  • Informal
59 4.9
to cross-question
  • Jargon
1 7.5
to question
777 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.