▪ I. deˈpending, vbl. n. rare.
[f. depend v.1 + -ing1. In sense 2, perh. a subst. use of the ppl. a.]
1. The action of the verb depend; dependence; in quot. † waiting, suspense (see depend v.1 6, 7).
| 1616 B. Jonson Epigr., To William Roe, Delay is bad, doubt worse, depending worst. |
2. Something depending on or belonging to something else; an appurtenance; = dependence 4, dependency 4 a. Obs.
| 1436 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 181 Conclusion of this deppendinge of kepinge of the see. 1642 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. iii. (1692) I. 665 The said Commissions or Writs, with all their Dependings and Circumstances. |
▪ II. depending, ppl. a. (prep.)
(dɪˈpɛndɪŋ)
[f. depend v.1 + -ing2.]
A. adj. That depends: see the verb.
1. Hanging or inclining downwards; pendent.
| 1735 Somerville Chase iii. 441 To raise the slope Depending Road. 1758 J. S. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 52 To prevent the Pus from lodging in the most depending Part. 1819 J. H. Wiffen Aonian Hours (1820) 39 Locked in the twilight of depending boughs. 1860 Gosse Rom. Nat. Hist. 176 One or two depending vines. |
2. That depends on something else; contingent, conditioned, etc.; dependent.
| 1824 L. Murray Eng. Gram. (ed. 5) I. 446 A number of depending circumstances distinctly and advantageously arranged. |
† 3. Subordinate, dependent, subject. Obs.
| 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. I. 37 [Persons] of a mean depending Condition. 1735 Berkeley Querist §419 Either kingdom or republic, depending or independent, free or enslaved. |
† 4. Relying, trusting. ? Obs.
| 1746–7 Hervey Medit. (1818) 113 A lesson of heaven-depending faith. 1829 E. Bather Serm. II. 372 A praying, waiting, depending frame of mind. |
5. Awaiting settlement, pending.
| 1679 Hist. Jetzer 34 To hear and determine the depending cause. 1754 Erskine Princ. Sc. Law (1809) 35 Letters of diligence..granted in a depending process. |
B. prep. [Originally the pres. pple. agreeing with the n. in absolute construction, as in L. pendente lite; cf. during, notwithstanding.] During the continuance or dependence of; pending.
| 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 31 Pream., Knyghthode..receyved, eny tyme dependyng the seid accions or suetys, shall abate the writtes. 1602 W. Fulbecke 1st Pt. Parall. 61 The plaintife is put out of seruice depending the plea. |