To remove someone from office or position of authority, or to give sworn testimony in a legal proceeding. Both meanings involve formally placing someone in a different status.
From Latin 'de-' (down, away) + 'ponere' (to place) → 'deponere' meaning 'to put down or lay aside.' Through Old French 'deposer,' it developed the legal meaning of both removing someone from high position (putting them down) and placing testimony on record.
Think of 'depose' as literally 'putting someone down' - whether you're deposing a king (removing from throne) or deposing a witness (putting their words down on record). It's the opposite of 'impose' (placing upon) - depose takes authority away while impose places it on someone!
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