depend
/dɪˈpɛnd/
verb
Origin
Latin
dependere — to hang down
Overview
Meaning Now
- To be decided by or contingent upon something else.
- To place trust or reliance on someone or something.
- Historically: to hang down or be suspended.
Literal older meaning
to hang down from
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
dependen
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The word originally described physical suspension (hanging down). By the late 14th century, the meaning shifted metaphorically to represent a conditional relationship, where one thing 'hangs' from another for support or determination.
Evolution
- Latin
dependere
“to hang down”
from de- (down) + pendere (to hang)
- Old French
dependre
“to hang down, to rely”
- Middle English
dependen
“to hang, to be subject to”
- Modern English
depend
“to rely, to be contingent”
Connections
Word parts
de-
prefix
down
pend
root
to hang
Related across languages
French
dépendre
to depend
Spanish
depender
to depend
Italian
dipendere
to depend
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.