Leading \Lead"ing\, a.
Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading
motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- Lead"ing*ly,
adv.
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Leading case (Law), a reported decision which has come to
be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
--Abbott.
Leading motive [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a
guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked
melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies
the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract
idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of
musical label. Also called leitmotif or leitmotiv.
Leading note (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the
ascending major scale; the sensible note.
Leading question, a question so framed as to guide the
person questioned in making his reply.
Leading strings, strings by which children are supported
when beginning to walk.
To be in leading strings, to be in a state of infancy or
dependence, or under the guidance of others.
Leading wheel, a wheel situated before the driving wheels
of a locomotive engine.
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Question \Ques"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. quaestio, fr. quaerere,
quaesitum, to seek for, ask, inquire. See Quest, n.]
1. The act of asking; interrogation; inquiry; as, to examine
by question and answer.
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2. Discussion; debate; hence, objection; dispute; doubt; as,
the story is true beyond question; he obeyed without
question.
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There arose a question between some of John's
disciples and the Jews about purifying. -- John iii.
25.
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It is to be to question, whether it be lawful for
Christian princes to make an invasive war simply for
the propagation of the faith. -- Bacon.
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3. Examination with reference to a decisive result;
investigation; specifically, a judicial or official
investigation; also, examination under torture.
--Blackstone.
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He that was in question for the robbery. Shak.
The Scottish privy council had power to put state
prisoners to the question. --Macaulay.
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4. That which is asked; inquiry; interrogatory; query.
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But this question asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ?
--Milton.
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5. Hence, a subject of investigation, examination, or debate;
theme of inquiry; matter to be inquired into; as, a
delicate or doubtful question.
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6. Talk; conversation; speech; speech. [Obs.] --Shak.
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In question, in debate; in the course of examination or
discussion; as, the matter or point in question.
Leading question. See under Leading.
Out of question, unquestionably. "Out of question, 't is
Maria's hand." --Shak.
Out of the question. See under Out.
Past question, beyond question; certainly; undoubtedly;
unquestionably.
Previous question, a question put to a parliamentary
assembly upon the motion of a member, in order to
ascertain whether it is the will of the body to vote at
once, without further debate, on the subject under
consideration.
Note: The form of the question is: "Shall the main question
be now put?" If the vote is in the affirmative, the
matter before the body must be voted upon as it then
stands, without further general debate or the
submission of new amendments. In the House of
Representatives of the United States, and generally in
America, a negative decision operates to keep the
business before the body as if the motion had not been
made; but in the English Parliament, it operates to
postpone consideration for the day, and until the
subject may be again introduced. In American practice,
the object of the motion is to hasten action, and it is
made by a friend of the measure. In English practice,
the object is to get rid of the subject for the time
being, and the motion is made with a purpose of voting
against it. --Cushing.
To beg the question. See under Beg.
To the question, to the point in dispute; to the real
matter under debate.
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Syn: Point; topic; subject.
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LEADING QUESTION, evidence, Practice. A question which puts into the
witness' mouth the words to be echoed back, or plainly suggests the answer
which the party wishes to get from him. 7 Serg. & Rawle, 171; 4 Wend. Rep.
247. In that case the examiner is said to lead him to the answer. It is not
always easy to determine what is or is not a leading question.
2. These questions cannot, in general, be put to a witness in his
examination in chief. 6 Binn. R. 483, 3 Binn. R. 130; 1 Phill. Ev. 221; 1
Stark. Ev. 123. But in an examination in chief, questions may be put to lead
the mind of the witness to the subject of inquiry; and they are allowed when
it appears the witness wishes to conceal the truth, or to favor the opposite
party, or where, from the nature of the case, the mind of the witness cannot
be directed to the subject of inquiry, without a particular specification of
such subject. 1 Camp. R. 43; 1 Stark. C. 100.
3. In cross-examinations, the examiner has generally the right to put
leading questions. 1 Stark. Ev. 132; 3 Chit. Pr. 892; Rosc. Civ. Ev. 94; 3
Bouv. Inst. n. 3203-4.
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