Depose vs dispose

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Grammarist

Depose and dispose are two words that are sometimes confused, as they are close in spelling and pronunciation. We will examine the definitions of the words depose and dispose, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.

Depose has two distinct meanings. The first meaning of depose is to remove from office in a sudden manner, and by force. The second meaning is to take a statement of evidence from a witness outside of court or to give evidence as a witness outside of court. Usually, the witness is questioned orally, and a transcript is rendered as evidence for a later court date. Depose is a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are deposed, deposed, deposing, deposition, deposable, deposer. The word depose is derived from the Old French word deposer meaning to place down.

Dispose means to throw something away, to get rid of something by giving it away or selling it. Dispose may also mean to overcome something or to kill someone. Dispose is a verb, related words are disposes, disposed, disposing, disposal, disposer. The word dispose is derived from the Old French word disposer meaning regulate, control.

Examples

An attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels filed a motion Wednesday seeking to depose President Trump and his attorney, dialing up pressure on the president over his alleged sexual encounter with her years ago. (The Kennebec Journal & MOrning Sentinel)

Conflict was given a modern twist in The Hayloft Project’s rewriting of the Roman Seneca’s bloody revenge tragedy Thyestes, in which the sons of a deposed king are murdered and served up to him for dinner. (The Adelaide Review)

After collecting the keys to their new flat, flat buyers have a 6-month grace period to dispose of their existing flat. (The Straits Times)

On Wednesday, Netcare said it had decided to dispose of its controlling stake in the UK’s biggest private hospital group, GHG, due to difficult trading conditions and its inability to negotiate a rent reduction despite five years of talks. (Business Day)