n. [ LL. dependentia, fr. L. dependens. See Dependent, and cf. Dependance. ] 1. The act or state of depending; state of being dependent; a hanging down or from; suspension from a support. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being influenced and determined by something; subjection (as of an effect to its cause). [ 1913 Webster ]

The cause of effects, and the dependence of one thing upon another. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Mutual connection and support; concatenation; systematic inter-relation. [ 1913 Webster ]

So dark and so intricate of purpose, without any dependence or order. Sir T. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Subjection to the direction or disposal of another; inability to help or provide for one's self; a lack of independence or self-sufficiency.
Syn. -- dependance, dependency. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

Reduced to a servile dependence on their mercy. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A resting with confidence; reliance; trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

Affectionate dependence on the Creator is the spiritual life of the soul. T. Erskine. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. That on which one depends or relies; as, he was her sole dependence. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. That which depends; anything dependent or suspended; anything attached a subordinate to, or contingent on, something else. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like a large cluster of black grapes they show
And make a large dependence from the bough. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. A matter depending, or in suspense, and still to be determined; ground of controversy or quarrel. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To go on now with my first dependence. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Dependencies 1. State of being dependent; dependence; state of being subordinate; subordination; concatenation; connection; reliance; trust. [ 1913 Webster ]

Any long series of action, the parts of which have very much dependency each on the other. Sir J. Reynolds. [ 1913 Webster ]

So that they may acknowledge their dependency on the crown of England. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A thing hanging down; a dependence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is attached to something else as its consequence, subordinate, satellite, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

This earth and its dependencies. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Modes I call such complex ideas which . . . are considered as dependencies on or affections of substances. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A territory remote from the kingdom or state to which it belongs, but subject to its dominion; a colony; as, Great Britain has its dependencies in Asia, Africa, and America. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Dependence is more used in the abstract, and dependency in the concrete. The latter is usually restricted in meaning to 3 and 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See Depend, and cf. Dependant. ] 1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not able to exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will, power, or aid of something else; not self-sustaining; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on God; dependent upon friends. Opposite of independent. [ Narrower terms: interdependent, mutualist, mutually beneficial; parasitic, parasitical, leechlike, bloodsucking; subordinate; underage; myrmecophilous; symbiotic ] Also See: unfree. [ 1913 Webster ]

England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first rank. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. conditional; contingent or conditioned. Opposite of unconditional.
Syn. -- qualified. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. addicted to drugs.
Syn. -- addicted, dependent, drug-addicted, hooked, strung-out. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Dependent covenant or
Dependent contract (Law), one not binding until some connecting stipulation is performed. --
Dependent variable (Math.), a varying quantity whose changes are arbitrary, but are regarded as produced by changes in another variable, which is called the independent variable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who depends; one who is sustained by another, or who relies on another for financial support or favor; a hanger-on; a retainer; as, a numerous train of dependents. [ 1913 Webster ]

A host of dependents on the court, suborned to play their part as witnesses. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which depends; corollary; consequence. [ 1913 Webster ]

With all its circumstances and dependents. Prynne. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ See the Note under Dependant. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a dependent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who depends; a dependent. [ 1913 Webster ]