compel testimony
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.23 in modern English
26
Scrabble Score
15
Letters
5
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To officially require that a witness appear and testify before a court of law or other public authority, under threat of legally enforceable penalties for failure to do so.
Example Sentences
- "President Roosevelt approved an amendment to the Air Commerce Act of 1926, giving the Aeronautics Branch of the Department of Commerce power to hold public hearings, subpoena witnesses, compel testimony under oath."
- "With the power to subpoena witnesses, to compel testimony under threat of imprisonment, and to recommend criminal charges for any illegal drug activities he uncovers, Justice Dubin has been hailed here as the man who may be able to shake Canada's sporting community out of the widespread drug-taking that has been alleged."
- "Investigators are using "John Doe" proceedings to compel testimony from witnesses and keep them from discussing the case in public."