dependent

Pronunciation

• IPA: /dɪˈpɛndənt/^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English dependant, borrowed from Middle French dependant, the present participle of dependre (“to hang down; to depend”),^[2][3][4] from Latin dependēre (“to hang from, hang down”), from de- (“down”) and pendēre (“to hang”) (see depend),^[2] which Etymonline derives from PIE Proto-Indo-European *(s)pen- (“to draw, stretch”).^[2] The spelling -ent was adopted in the 16th century after the Latin participle dependens.^[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relying for its existence on something: the late 14th century in Etymonline;^[2] hanging down, about 1420 in the OED.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Contingent on some condition is from the early 15th century,^[2] 1594 in the OED.^[5] Needing aid or support from another, or subordinate, is from the 1640s;^[2] the OED has subordinate from 1616 and relying for support from before 1643.^[5] The mathematical dependent variable is from 1852.^[2][5] As a noun, a person who relies on another for support, it is usually spelled dependant in Britain.^[2][6]

Timeline

• late 14th century – relying for existence on.^[2]
• c. 1420 – hanging down.^[5]
• 1594 – contingent.^[5]
• before 1643 – relying on another for support.^[5]
• 1852 – dependent variable.^[2][5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Relying on someone or something for support or aid.
2. Determined by something else; contingent.
3. Unable to do without something, especially a drug; addicted.
4. Subordinate or subject.
5. (archaic) Hanging down.

Noun

1. A person who relies on another for financial support.

Word family

• dependently
• interdependent
• overdependent
• semidependent
• undependent

Related words

• depend
• dependence
• dependency
• dependent clause
• dependent variable
• dependant
• independent
• pendant
• pending

Usage notes

Collins notes that dependent is the usual spelling of the adjective, while British English spells the noun dependant.^[6] The AHD compares dependent with conditional, contingent, relative and subject, all meaning determined by something else.^[7]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin