I. noun
or de·pen·dance -endən(t)s
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French dependance, from dependre + -ance
1. archaic : the quality or state of being undecided or undetermined
2.
a. : the quality or state of depending upon or being dependent upon something else
b. : the quality or state of being influenced, conditional upon, or necessitated by something else
scarcely a single incident which has any necessary dependence upon any one other — E.A.Poe
the relation of a logical consequent to its antecedent or of an effect to its cause is one of dependence
c. : the quality or state of being subject or subservient to or needful of the use, activity, assistance, direction, or approval of another or others — used with on or upon
the nation's dependence upon its self-sacrificing men
the modern age's dependence upon luxury goods
specifically : inability to provide for oneself
a child's dependence upon its parents
3. : reliance , trust
place dependence upon old and trusted friends
for a knowledge of Celtic law … dependence must be placed mainly on the written records — John MacNeill
4. : something on which one relies : the object of one's trust
he was her sole dependence
cotton was the earliest crop … but ultimately rice became the chief dependence — R.H.Brown
Synonyms: see trust
II. noun
also dependance
1. : a drug addiction
2. : habituation 2b