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depend

de·pend [ di pénd ] (past and past participle de·pend·ed, present participle de·pend·ing, 3rd person present singular de·pends)


intransitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. be contingent: to be affected or decided by other factors

2. vary: to vary according to the circumstances

3. hang down: to hang down or be suspended from something ( archaic )

[15th century. Via French< Latin dependere "hang down" < pendere "hang"]

Word Usage

The verb depend should be followed by on when it introduces a clause beginning with how, what, where, whether, who, or why: It depends on how you interpret the word "liberal." The amount you pay depends on what you earn. The omission of on in sentences of this type is more acceptable in speech than in writing, as in "Are you planning to go?" "It just depends."

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