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.
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   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.
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            He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the
            examinations.                         --Macaulay.
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   {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.
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