| 释义 |
dependent, a.|dɪˈpɛndənt|
Also 5–6 -aunt, 6–9 -ant.
[Originally dependant, a. F. dépendant (14th c. in Hatzf.), pr. pple. of dépendre to hang down, depend: from the 16th c. often assimilated to L. dēpendēnt-em, and now usually so spelt, the form in -ant being almost obs. in the adj., though retained in the n., q.v.]
1. Hanging down, pendent.
c1420Pallad on Husb. iii. 1060 So thai be wombed wel, dependannt, syde, That likely is for greet and mighty stoore. 1514Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) p. lxxii, With glistering eyes & side dependaunt beard. 1591Greene Maidens Dreame xxviii, Mourning locks dependant. 1796Morse Amer. Geog. I. 378 A regular rock, from the upper part of which are dependent many excrescences. 1880C. & F. Darwin Movem. Pl. 128 [The leaves] partially assume their nocturnal dependent position.
2. a. That depends on something else; having its existence contingent on, or conditioned by, the existence of something else. dependent differentiation: see differentiation 1.
1594Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. viii. (1611) 20 On these two generall heads..all other specialties are dependent. 1623Cockeram, Dependant, which hangeth vpon another thing. 1664Power Exp. Philos. ii. 192 Effects dependent on the same..Causes. 1707Norris Treat. Humility iii. 77 A creature is a dependent being, that is, it is essential to a creature to depend upon the author of its being. 1850McCosh Div. Govt. i. i. (1874) 11 Animal life, again, is dependent on vegetable life, and vegetable life is dependent on the soil and atmosphere. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) I. 265 All things in nature are dependent on one another.
†b. Annexed, appertaining. Obs.
1574tr. Littleton's Tenures 62 b, The reversion that is dependaunt unto the same franketenement is severed from the jointure.
3. That depends or has to rely on something else for support, supply, or what is needed.
a1643W. Cartwright Commend. Verses in Fletcher's Wks., Whose wretched genius, and dependent fires But to their benefactors' dole aspires. 1742Young Nt. Th. iii. 448 Life makes the soul dependent on the dust. 1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest ii, She found herself wholly dependent upon strangers. 1865Trollope Belton Est. xxvii. 332 It was her destiny to be dependent on charity. 1874Green Short Hist. ii. §6. 93 The vast estates..were granted out to new men dependent on royal favour.
4. a. Attached in a relation of subordination; subordinate, subject; opp. to independent.
1616Brent tr. Sarpi's Counc. Trent (1676) 574 One Bishop instituted by Christ, and the others not to have any authority but dependant from him. 1624Fisher in F. White Repl. Fisher 337 Mediators subordinate vnto, and dependent of Christ. 1654tr. Scudery's Curia Polit. 93 Soveraignes are not subordinate and dependant to them [the Lawes]. 1726Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 364 The Assembly meet here, which is in the nature of a dependant Parliament. 1829I. Taylor Enthus. vii. 178 The temper of mind which is proper to a dependant and subordinate agent. 1863Bright Sp. Amer. 26 Mar., They ceased to be dependent colonies of England.
b. Math. dependent variable: one whose variation depends on that of another variable (the independent variable).
1852Todhunter Diff. Calc. i, A dependent variable is a quantity the value of which is determined as soon as that of some independent variable is known.
†5. Impending. Obs. rare.
1606Shakes. Tr. & Cr. ii. iii. 21 That me thinkes is the curse dependant on those that warre for a placket. |