Part 173

2. A thing hanging down; a dependence.

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

This earth and its dependencies.

T. Burnet.

Modes I call such complex ideas which . . . are considered as dependencies on or affections of substances.

Locke.

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.

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

De*pend"ent (?), a. [L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See Depend, and cf. Dependant.] 1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf.

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; contingent or conditioned; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on God; dependent upon friends.

England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first rank.

Macaulay.

Dependent covenant or 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.

De*pend"ent, n. 1. One who depends; one who is sustained by another, or who relies on another for support of favor; a hanger-on; a retainer; as, a numerous train of dependents.

A host of dependents on the court, suborned to play their part as witnesses.

Hallam.

2. That which depends; corollary; consequence.

With all its circumstances and dependents.

Prynne.

See the Note under Dependant.

De*pend"ent*ly, adv. In a dependent manner.

De*pend"er (?), n. One who depends; a dependent.

De*pend"ing*ly, adv. As having dependence. Hale.

De*peo"ple (?), v. t. To depopulate. [Obs.]

De*per"dit (?), n. [LL. deperditum, fr. L. deperditus, p. p. of deperdere; de- + perdere to lose, destroy.] That which is lost or destroyed. [R.] Paley.

De*per"dite*ly (?), adv. Hopelessly; despairingly; in the manner of one ruined; as, deperditely wicked. [Archaic]

Dep`er*di"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. déperdition.] Loss; destruction. [Archaic] Sir T. Browne.

De*per"ti*ble (?), a. [See Depart.] Divisible. [Obs.] Bacon.