independent English · revision 3040

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1611}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌɪn.dɪˈpen.dənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|in-|dependent]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) probably influenced by Italian independente, found in Florio's dictionary (1611), and perhaps by French indépendant.^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)^(Etymonline) The French word is attested from about 1600 and the Italian from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Not depending on the authority of another”: 1611,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) or the 1610s;^(Etymonline) in English it was first used of churches and nations.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In reference to persons it is used from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) As a noun, an ''Independent'' was a member of an English congregational church, from 1644 or the 1640s,^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) and the adjective in this sense is also from 1611.^(OED 1989) One who acts according to his own will is from the 1670s.^(Etymonline) “Able to live well without working”, as in ''a man of independent means'', is from 1732,^(Etymonline) and dialects used ''independent'' for “rich, in easy circumstances”.^(Wright 1898) “Not influenced by others, unbiased” is from 1790,^(Etymonline) and a person not belonging to a political party from 1808.^(Etymonline) ''Independence'' is from 1640, partly perhaps from French indépendance.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1611 – not depending on another's authority.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1640 – ''independence''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1644 – noun, a Congregationalist.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1660s – of persons.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1732 – able to live without working.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790 – unbiased.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1808 – noun, not of a party.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Not ruled by another country; self-governing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Free from the control or influence of others; [[self-reliant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Not depending on something else; separate: ''two independent studies''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Not belonging to a political [[party]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Having enough money to live without working.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of a clause: able to stand alone as a sentence.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person, especially a voter or politician, who belongs to no party.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''Independent'': A member of a 17th-century English movement for the independence of each congregation; a [[Congregationalist]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[independently]]

+ * [[pseudoindependent]]

+ * [[semi-independent]]

+ * [[quasi-independent]]

+ * [[nonindependent]]

+ * [[independency]]

+ * [[independent variable]]

+ * [[Commonwealth of Independent States]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[depend]]

+ * [[dependence]]

+ * [[independence]]

+ * [[pendant]]

+ * [[pending]]

+ * [[dependent]]

+ * [[pendulum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}