depend
Valid in Scrabble
- Scrabble points
- 10
- Words With Friends
- 12
- Letters
- 6
See all 5 pronunciations Show less
Definition of depend
5 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included
verb
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(intransitive)To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition
“We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow.”
“Gold don't carry any curse with it. It all depends on whether or not the guy who finds it is the right guy. The way I see it, gold can be as much of a blessing as a curse”
See all 5 definitions Show less
verb
-
(intransitive)To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition
“We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow.”
“Gold don't carry any curse with it. It all depends on whether or not the guy who finds it is the right guy. The way I see it, gold can be as much of a blessing as a curse”
-
(intransitive)To trust; to have confidence; to rely.
“we should all be able to depend on the word or assurance of our friends”
“we depend on the mailman to come at the usual time.”
“"It's another wedding present, you may depend," Dicky said—"a beastly surprise, I shouldn't wonder."”
-
(literary)To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above, especially in heraldry, where a badge, decoration, or element is suspended from another part of an achievement of arms.
“The long rows of teeth on the bulwarks glistened in the moonlight; and like the white ivory tusks of some huge elephant, vast curving icicles depended from the bows.”
“In the centre is an Imperial Crown, from which depend a Harp of gold and the Badge.”
“Bronze chandeliers with many globes depended from the low, slightly vaulted ceiling, and the fresco paintings ran flat and dull all round the walls without windows, representing scenes of the chase and of outdoor revelry in medieval costumes.”
“He had prepared a sort of collar of leather with many straps depending from it.”
“Besides, if you worked up to be a cadet officer, you got to wear a Sam Browne belt, from which depended a nifty saber.”
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(archaic)To be pending; to be undetermined or undecided.
“a cause depending in court”
“While the Bishops Affair was depending, the King sent orders [...]”
“In perjury, the capias, warrant, and affidavit, are good evidence that a cause was depending.”
“"A Letter of the King sent to his Proctors at Rome, concerning a Case of his in the said Court depending."”
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(transitive)To cause to be contingent or dependent on; to set as a necessity.
“There he wilted, obviously depending the disposal of his person and his plight on Bradly, and expecting that to be done at once, too.”
Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.
Etymology
From Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre and Latin dependeō, from Latin dē- + pendeō (“to hang”). In this sense, displaced native Old English hangian (“to hang or depend”).
Words you can make from depend
23 playable · top: PENDED (10 pts)
Best play pended 10 points5-letter words
1 word4-letter words
8 words3-letter words
8 words2-letter words
5 wordsHooks
1 extension · 1 back
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