interrogatory

plural interrogatories

1. lawA formal question or set of questions submitted to opposing party to answer, generally governed by court rule.

   Sidney interposed with an interrogatory concerning the legality of the evidence

   1763-1783, Catharine Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James I to that of the Brunswick Line

   2 more examples

   Kimberling, on the advice of his lawyer Frank Kameny, refused to answer several questions put to him on the 16-question interrogatory. After strong objections, the questions in question were withdrawn.

   1976 December 11, “Security Clearance Cleared”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 24, page 3

   If those attempts are unsuccessful, the attorney requesting the interrogatories may file a motion for sanctions with the court. The sanctions range from attorney fees to prohibiting the nonanswering party from presenting or defending claims.

   2013, James J. Gross, It's Splitsville: Surviving Your Divorce, page 240

2. A question; an interrogation.

   But when he found that some of his interrogatories were evaded, and others answered undecisively, the look of gentleness which he had assumed, vanished, and his brow wore the cloud of disappointment and of anger.

   1798, Eleanor Sleath, The Orphan of the Rhine

comparative more interrogatory · superlative most interrogatory

1. Serving to interrogate; questioning.

   an interrogatory glance

   1 more example

   The interrogatory stare of the cardinal is enough to bring a man to his knees.

   2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 207