cross-question

cross- +‎ question

cross-question (plural cross-questions)

1. a question asked during a cross-examination

cross-question (third-person singular simple present cross-questions, present participle cross-questioning, simple past and past participle cross-questioned)

1. (transitive) to subject to close questioning.
   • 1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “ch. 1, Jocelin of Brakelond”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk):

     The good man, he looks on us so clear and cheery, and in his neighbourly soft-smiling eyes we see so well our own shadow, - we have a longing always to cross-question him.

   • 2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 237b:

     the best way to get things clear is if we gently cross-question this very statement.