I. də̇ˈpendənt, (ˈ)dē|p- adjective
Etymology: Middle English dependant, from Middle French, present participle of dependre to depend
1. : hanging down
a dependent bough
lamps dependent from the ceiling
2.
a. : determined or conditioned by something else : contingent
a conclusion that is dependent on a premise
b. : unable to exist, sustain oneself, or act suitably or normally without the assistance or direction of another or others
smelting operations were dependent on charcoal — Desmond Sprague
a girl who remained excessively dependent on her parents even after marriage — Ruth & Edward Brecher
the maple sugar and syrup crop, so dependent on weather conditions — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
traffic … has been dependent on ferries to cross five rivers — Americana Annual
a child is pretty dependent on companionship
c. : connected in a subordinate relationship : subject to the jurisdiction of another
dependent territories
d. : lacking the necessary means of support and receiving aid from others (as from persons outside the immediate family or from a private or public welfare agency)
a program of assistance for dependent children
e. of a clause : subordinate 2b
f. of a compound : belonging to the tatpurusha class
3. obsolete : impending
4. phonetics : combinative — used of sound change
• de·pen·dent·ly adverb
II. noun
also de·pen·dant də̇ˈpendənt, dēˈ-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French dependant, from dependant, present participle
1. archaic , usually dependant : something attached to something else : appurtenance , dependency
2. : one that depends or is dependent ; especially : one relying on another for support
a man taxed according to the number of dependents he has
dependents were defined as those persons unable to care for themselves — J.F.Cuber
III. adjective
1. : affected with a drug dependence
2.
a. : not mathematically or statistically independent
a dependent set of vectors
dependent events
b. : equivalent 1 herein
dependent equations