n. & v.
n. 1 a a movable, usu. metal, joint or mechanism such as that by which a door is hung on a side post. b Biol. a natural joint performing a similar function, e.g. that of a bivalve shell. 2 a central point or principle on which everything depends.
v. 1 intr. (foll. by on) a depend (on a principle, an event, etc.) (all hinges on his acceptance). b (of a door etc.) hang and turn (on a post etc.). 2 tr. attach with or as if with a hinge. stamp-hinge a small piece of gummed transparent paper used for fixing postage stamps in an album etc. hinged adj. hingeless adj. hingewise adv.
[ ME heng etc., rel. to HANG ]