Etymology From Late Latin; equivalent to interrogate + -ory (“pertaining to”), or more distantly inter- + rogatory.
1
Law A formal question or set of questions submitted to opposing party to answer, generally governed by court rule.
Sidney interposed with an interrogatory concerning the legality of the evidence1763-1783, Catharine Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James I to that of the Brunswick Line:
Kimberling, on the advice of his lawyer Frank Kameny, refused to answer several questions put to him on the 16-question interrogatory. After strong objections, the questions in question were withdrawn.1976 December 11, “Security Clearance Cleared”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 24, page 3:
1 more example
If those attempts are unsuccessful, the attorney requesting the interrogatories may file a motion for sanctions with the court. The sanctions range from attorney fees to prohibiting the nonanswering party from presenting or defending claims.2013, James J. Gross, It's Splitsville: Surviving Your Divorce, page 240:
2
A question; an interrogation.
But when he found that some of his interrogatories were evaded, and others answered undecisively, the look of gentleness which he had assumed, vanished, and his brow wore the cloud of disappointment and of anger.1798, Eleanor Sleath, The Orphan of the Rhine:
interrogatory
adj
Etymology From Late Latin; equivalent to interrogate + -ory (“pertaining to”), or more distantly inter- + rogatory.
1
Serving to interrogate; questioning.
an interrogatory glance
The interrogatory stare of the cardinal is enough to bring a man to his knees.2020, Hilary Mantel, The Mirror and the Light, Fourth Estate, page 207: