dependent, a.
(dɪˈpɛndənt)
Also 5–6 -aunt, 6–9 -ant.
[Originally dependant, a. F. dépendant (14th c. in Hatzf.), pr. pple. of dépendre to hang down, depend: from the 16th c. often assimilated to L. dēpendēnt-em, and now usually so spelt, the form in -ant being almost obs. in the adj., though retained in the n., q.v.]
1. Hanging down, pendent.
| c 1420 Pallad on Husb. iii. 1060 So thai be wombed wel, dependannt, syde, That likely is for greet and mighty stoore. 1514 Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) p. lxxii, With glistering eyes & side dependaunt beard. 1591 Greene Maidens Dreame xxviii, Mourning locks dependant. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 378 A regular rock, from the upper part of which are dependent many excrescences. 1880 C. & F. Darwin Movem. Pl. 128 [The leaves] partially assume their nocturnal dependent position. |
2. a. That depends on something else; having its existence contingent on, or conditioned by, the existence of something else. dependent differentiation: see differentiation 1.
| 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. viii. (1611) 20 On these two generall heads..all other specialties are dependent. 1623 Cockeram, Dependant, which hangeth vpon another thing. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 192 Effects dependent on the same..Causes. 1707 Norris Treat. Humility iii. 77 A creature is a dependent being, that is, it is essential to a creature to depend upon the author of its being. 1850 M{supc}Cosh Div. Govt. i. i. (1874) 11 Animal life, again, is dependent on vegetable life, and vegetable life is dependent on the soil and atmosphere. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 265 All things in nature are dependent on one another. |
† b. Annexed, appertaining. Obs.
| 1574 tr. Littleton's Tenures 62 b, The reversion that is dependaunt unto the same franketenement is severed from the jointure. |
3. That depends or has to rely on something else for support, supply, or what is needed.
| a 1643 W. Cartwright Commend. Verses in Fletcher's Wks., Whose wretched genius, and dependent fires But to their benefactors' dole aspires. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iii. 448 Life makes the soul dependent on the dust. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest ii, She found herself wholly dependent upon strangers. 1865 Trollope Belton Est. xxvii. 332 It was her destiny to be dependent on charity. 1874 Green Short Hist. ii. §6. 93 The vast estates..were granted out to new men dependent on royal favour. |
4. a. Attached in a relation of subordination; subordinate, subject; opp. to independent.
| 1616 Brent tr. Sarpi's Counc. Trent (1676) 574 One Bishop instituted by Christ, and the others not to have any authority but dependant from him. 1624 Fisher in F. White Repl. Fisher 337 Mediators subordinate vnto, and dependent of Christ. 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Polit. 93 Soveraignes are not subordinate and dependant to them [the Lawes]. 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 364 The Assembly meet here, which is in the nature of a dependant Parliament. 1829 I. Taylor Enthus. vii. 178 The temper of mind which is proper to a dependant and subordinate agent. 1863 Bright Sp. Amer. 26 Mar., They ceased to be dependent colonies of England. |
b. Math. dependent variable: one whose variation depends on that of another variable (the independent variable).
| 1852 Todhunter Diff. Calc. i, A dependent variable is a quantity the value of which is determined as soon as that of some independent variable is known. |
† 5. Impending. Obs. rare.
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. iii. 21 That me thinkes is the curse dependant on those that warre for a placket. |