释义 |
ˌcross-eˈxamine, v. [cross- 6 c.] 1. trans. To examine by cross-questioning; to examine by questions adapted to check the results of previous examination; to examine minutely or repeatedly. (In quot. 1664 humorous.)
1664Butler Hud. ii. iii. 1137 A Monster..Had cross-examin'd both our Hose, And plunder'd all we had to lose. 1667Decay Chr. Piety (J.), If we may but cross-examine and interrogate their actions against their words, these will soon confess the invalidity of their solemnest confessions. 1848Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 94 The accused party was furnished with no copy of the charge. He was examined and crossexamined. 2. spec. To subject (a witness who has already given evidence on behalf of one side in a legal action) to an examination by the other side, with the purpose of shaking his testimony or eliciting from him evidence which favours the other side.
1697in Cumbrld. & Westm. Archæol. Soc. Trans. VIII. 101 This Exceptant did then by his Councell..Crosse Examine the Witnesses produced..on the Respondents behalfe. 1752J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 207 The Prosecutor first examines the Witnesses produced against the Prisoner, and then the Prisoner may cross-examine them. 1755Johnson, Cross-examine, to try the faith of evidence by captious questions of the contrary party. Mod. The witness was severely cross-examined, but without shaking her evidence on any material point. Hence ˌcross-examiˈnation, the action of cross-examining; ˌcross-eˈxaminer, ˌcross-eˈxamining.
1827Bentham Ration. Evid. Wks. 1843 VI. 378 Completeness of the mass of evidence..is..an object at which, by cross-examination and a variety of other means, English procedure never ceases to aim. 1838Penny Cycl. X. 103/1 In a court of common law..the cross-examination of a witness follows and is founded upon what the witness has stated in his examination in chief. 1864Bowen Logic xiii. 429 Very few..can be trusted to report their own observations, until they have undergone a severe cross-examination. 1838Dickens O. Twist xxxi, ‘Why not?’ demanded Rose. ‘Because, my pretty cross-examiner’ replied the doctor: ‘because..there are many ugly points about it.’ 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 266 On whom Socrates tries his cross-examining powers. |