depend
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /dɪˈpɛnd/
Verb

depend (depends, present participle depending; past and past participle depended)

  1. (intransitive, followed by on or upon, formerly also by of) To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition; to hinge on.
    We would like to go skiing, but it depends on the amount of snow.
  2. (intransitive, followed by on or upon) 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.
  3. (now, literary) To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above.
  4. (archaic) To be pending; to be undetermined or undecided.
    a cause depending in court
    • 1703, The History Of King William The Third. In III Parts:
      While the Bishops Affair was depending, the King sent orders [...]
    • 1836, Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Court of King's Bench:
      In perjury, the capias, warrant, and affidavit, are good evidence that a cause was depending.
    • 1837, The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe, page 544:
      "A Letter of the King sent to his Proctors at Rome, concerning a Case of his in the said Court depending."
Translations Translations
  • Italian: fare affidamento
  • Portuguese: confiar
  • Russian: полага́ться
  • Spanish: confiar
Translations Translations Translations


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