interrogatory
4
9.9
- noun
- /ˌɪntəˈrɑːɡəˌtɔːri/
- Formal
:
interrogatorio
- Drummond has answered my interrogatories, denied my requests for admissions, and produced some of the documents I requested.
The the the answer is to that interrogatory is as I placed it at the time I responded, Sir, I'm asking you now is the answer.
- The the the answer is to that interrogatory is as I placed it at the time I responded, Sir, I'm asking you now is the answer.
Examples
-
Mr. Dean, would you care to give Ms. Saunders a hand with the interrogatories?
Fiction book (1998) -
And if you don't believe me that Nathan Wade has a history of lying, look at his interrogatory answers in his divorce proceedings.
-
Of particular importance are his answers to my interrogatories.
Fiction book (1995) -
There are countless ways to word interrogatories, and I found myself modeling mine after his.
Fiction book (1995) -
With these files, I prepared a lengthy list of interrogatories, written questions one party sends to another to be answered in writing and under oath.
Fiction book (1995) -
I'm expecting a favorable ruling this afternoon on the evidentiary motion, but I could use some more manpower with the interrogatories.
Fiction book (1998) -
As Van Buren explained, responding to "interrogatories from my fellow citizens upon public questions" was a presidential candidate's democratic duty, and quite different from soliciting support.
Academic text (1997) -
It's Drummond's written discovery: a set of interrogatories, a series of requests for every document known to the plaintiff or his lawyer, and a set of requests for admissions.
Fiction book (1995) -
Haines: It just seems that no matter how much you've done, when you get down to, "OK, now I'm going to try this case," there's always one more deposition you would like to take, or another interrogatory or document request, or something to nail down for sure.
Academic text (1999) -
The lawyer submitted a series of interrogatories to gather detailed information from the defendant.
Surface Forms
Morphology
interrogatory = interrogate (semi-transparent) = interrogate + ory
The word is clearly built on 'interrogate' plus a Latinate suffix, but the legal noun sense is specialized and not fully predictable from the base alone.
Etymology
The word interrogatory comes from the Latin parts inter- 'between' and rogare 'to ask', just like the words interrogate and request. So, an interrogatory in law is simply a formal set of questions, a list of things someone must answer.