depongo

Depongo is a word-form most commonly encountered as the first-person singular present indicative of verbs derived from Latin deponere ("to put down, deposit, set aside") in several Romance languages and in Classical Latin itself. In that form it means "I put down," "I deposit," "I lay aside," or, in contexts of authority, "I depose" or "I renounce."

Origins and linguistic use: The root deponere is a compound of de- ("from, away") and ponere ("to place"). In Classical Latin depongo expresses physical placement or the act of setting something down. Descendants include Italian depongo (from deporre) and Spanish depongo (from deponer), each serving as the first-person singular present tense with comparable senses. Usage varies by context and by language, encompassing both literal and figurative meanings.

Legal and formal senses: In legal, ecclesiastical and historical writing the verbal concept behind depongo appears in discussions of deposition (removal from office), pledges being laid down, or testimony being given. Related English terms include depose and deposition, which share the same Latin root.

Other uses: Depongo can also appear as a proper name—surname, brand or company name—in which case its meaning derives from the chosen designation rather than the verbal root. As a relatively uncommon lexical item in English, depongo is primarily of interest in comparative linguistics, classical studies and legal-historical contexts.