How Do You Spell CROSS-EXAMINE?

Pronunciation: [kɹˈɒsɛɡzˈamɪn] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "cross-examine" can be a bit tricky because of its complex pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /ˌkrɔːs ɪɡˈzæmɪn/. The first syllable "cross" is pronounced like "kraws," while the second syllable "examine" is pronounced like "ig-zam-in." The stress is on the second syllable with a long "i" sound followed by a short "a" sound. When using this word in legal situations, it is important to know how to spell and pronounce it correctly.

CROSS-EXAMINE Meaning and Definition

  1. Cross-examine is a legal term referring to the process of questioning a witness in court, usually during a trial, who has already been examined by the opposing party. It is an essential element of the adversarial legal system used in many jurisdictions. The purpose of cross-examination is to challenge the credibility, reliability, and truthfulness of the witness's testimony, as well as to elicit additional facts or insights that may be beneficial to the cross-examiner's case.

    During cross-examination, the opposing party's attorney has the opportunity to pose questions to the witness with the aim of bringing forth inconsistencies, biases, or alternative explanations that could undermine their original testimony. This type of questioning is more rigorous and confrontational compared to the initial examination called direct examination, which is intended to elicit favorable information for the party calling the witness.

    Cross-examination often involves using leading questions, which direct the witness towards a specific answer. The purpose of this approach is to challenge the witness's recall or interpretation of events, expose any inconsistencies or contradictions in their statement, or highlight any biases, interests, or motivations that may influence their testimony.

    Cross-examination is an important tool for challenging and testing the evidence presented in court, as it allows the opposing party to delve deeper into the witness's account and reveal any weaknesses that may undermine their credibility. It is generally conducted by asking concise, pointed, and systematic questions to elicit the desired response and ultimately serve the cross-examiner's strategy in the case.

Common Misspellings for CROSS-EXAMINE

  • cross examinwe
  • crossexamine
  • crosexamine
  • crossaxamine
  • crosspexamine
  • cross0-examine
  • cross-0examine
  • crossp-examine
  • cross-pexamine
  • cross--examine
  • crossmexamine

Etymology of CROSS-EXAMINE

The word "cross-examine" comes from the combination of two root words: "cross" and "examine".

The word "cross" in this context originates from the Old Norse word "krossa", meaning "cross", which was later influenced by the Latin word "crux". In legal settings, "cross" is used to imply a contradiction or opposition.

The word "examine" comes from the Latin word "examinare", which means "to weigh" or "to investigate". It is derived from the word "examen", meaning "the tongue of a balance" or "a means of weighing". Over time, "examine" came to refer to the scrutiny or interrogation of witnesses during a legal proceeding.

Thus, the term "cross-examine" emerged as a combination of these elements, reflecting the practice of questioning a witness in a legal context to challenge or elicit further information regarding their testimony.

Idioms with the word CROSS-EXAMINE

  • cross-examine someone The idiom "cross-examine someone" refers to the act of asking a series of thorough and challenging questions to scrutinize or challenge someone's statements, credibility, or testimony. It commonly applies to situations within a courtroom, where an attorney questions a witness from the opposing side to obtain additional information, reveal inconsistencies, or cast doubt on their testimony.
  • cross-examine To cross-examine means to question a witness or defendant closely, especially in a court of law, in order to test their credibility or elicit more information.

Conjugate verb Cross-examine

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have cross-examined
you would have cross-examined
he/she/it would have cross-examined
we would have cross-examined
they would have cross-examined
I would have cross-examine
you would have cross-examine
he/she/it would have cross-examine
we would have cross-examine
they would have cross-examine

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been cross-examining
you would have been cross-examining
he/she/it would have been cross-examining
we would have been cross-examining
they would have been cross-examining

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would cross-examine
you would cross-examine
he/she/it would cross-examine
we would cross-examine
they would cross-examine

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be cross-examining
you would be cross-examining
he/she/it would be cross-examining
we would be cross-examining
they would be cross-examining

FUTURE

I will cross-examine
you will cross-examine
he/she/it will cross-examine
we will cross-examine
they will cross-examine

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be cross-examining
you will be cross-examining
he/she/it will be cross-examining
we will be cross-examining
they will be cross-examining

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have cross-examined
you will have cross-examined
he/she/it will have cross-examined
we will have cross-examined
they will have cross-examined

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been cross-examining
you will have been cross-examining
he/she/it will have been cross-examining
we will have been cross-examining
they will have been cross-examining

IMPERATIVE

you cross-examine
we let´s cross-examine

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to cross-examine

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was cross-examining
you were cross-examining
he/she/it was cross-examining
we were cross-examining
they were cross-examining

PAST PARTICIPLE

cross-examined

PAST PERFECT

I had cross-examined
you had cross-examined
he/she/it had cross-examined
we had cross-examined
they had cross-examined

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been cross-examining
you had been cross-examining
he/she/it had been cross-examining
we had been cross-examining
they had been cross-examining

PRESENT

I cross-examine
you cross-examine
he/she/it cross-examines
we cross-examine
they cross-examine

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am cross-examining
you are cross-examining
he/she/it is cross-examining
we are cross-examining
they are cross-examining

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

cross-examining

PRESENT PERFECT

I have cross-examined
you have cross-examined
he/she/it has cross-examined
we have cross-examined
they have cross-examined

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been cross-examining
you have been cross-examining
he/she/it has been cross-examining
we have been cross-examining
they have been cross-examining

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it cross-examine

SIMPLE PAST

I cross-examined
you cross-examined
he/she/it cross-examined
we cross-examined
they cross-examined

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