- Examination in chief
- Examination Ex*am`i*na"tion, n. [L. examinatio: cf. F.
examination.]
1. The act of examining, or state of being examined; a
careful search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by
study or experiment.
[1913 Webster]
2. A process prescribed or assigned for testing qualification; as, the examination of a student, or of a candidate for admission to the bar or the ministry. [1913 Webster]
He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the examinations. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
{Examination in chief}, or {Direct examination} (Law), that examination which is made of a witness by a party calling him.
{Cross-examination}, that made by the opposite party.
{Re["e]xamination}, or {Re-direct examination}, (Law) that questioning of a witness at trial made by the party calling the witness, after, and upon matters arising out of, the cross-examination; also called informally {re-direct}.
Syn: Search; inquiry; investigation; research; scrutiny; inquisition; inspection; exploration. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.