• Depend

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /dɪˈpÉ›nd/
    • Rhymes: -É›nd

    Origin

    From Middle French dependre, from de- + pendre ("to hang").

    Full definition of depend

    Verb

    1. (now literary) To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above.
      • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick:The long rows of teeth on the bulwarks glistened in the moonlight; and like the white ivory tusks of some huge elephant, vast curving icicles depended from the bows.
      • 1982, Paul Fussell, My War:Besides, if you worked up to be a cadet officer, you got to wear a Sam Browne belt, from which depended a nifty saber.
    2. To hang in suspense; to be pending; to be undetermined or undecided; as, a cause depending in court.
    3. To rely on for support; to be conditioned or contingent; to be connected with anything, as a cause of existence, or as a necessary condition; — followed by on or upon, formerly by of.
    4. (trust)To trust; to rest with confidence; to rely; to confide; to be certain; — with on or upon; as, we depend on the word or assurance of our friends; we depend on the mail at the usual hour.
    5. To serve; to attend; to act as a dependent or retainer.

    Anagrams

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