depend English · revision 6895

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1410|origins=la dependeo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈpɛnd/ ''(UK)''; /dɪˈpɛnd/, /di-/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English dependen, [[bor|frm|dependre|t=to hang down; be contingent]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Vulgar Latin *dēpendere, for Latin [[m|la|dependeo|alt=dēpendēre|t=to hang from, hang down]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|la|de|t=from, down]] and [[m|la|pendeo|alt=pendēre|t=to hang]] (see [[pendant]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE [[ine-pro|*(s)pen-|t=to draw, stretch, spin]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To be conditioned on, result from: 1410 in Barnhart, 1413 in the OED.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To be uncertain or in suspense is from before 1420,^(Barnhart 1988) and literally to hang down from about 1450, now chiefly literary.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) To rely on someone for support is from about 1500,^(OED 1989) and to trust or rely on with confidence later developed from it.^(Etymonline) The phrase ''it depends'' is from the 1550s.^(Etymonline) In the dialect of Nottinghamshire, ''you may depend your life'' meant you may rely on it.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1410 – to be conditioned on.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1420 – to be in suspense.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1450 – to hang down.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1500 – to rely on.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(depend on)'' To be determined by or [[contingent]] on.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(depend on)'' To rely on for support or help.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(depend on)'' To [[trust]] or be sure of.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(literary)'' To hang down.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dependable]]

+ * [[dependance]]

+ * [[dependancy]]

+ * [[dependant]]

+ * [[dependence]]

+ * [[dependency]]

+ * [[dependent]]

+ * [[interdepend]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pendant]]

+ * [[pending]]

+ * [[suspend]]

+ * [[pendulum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}