To rely on someone or something for support, or to be determined by certain conditions or circumstances.
From Latin 'dependēre', literally meaning 'to hang down from' (de- + pendēre 'to hang'). The metaphorical sense of relying on something developed from the physical image of hanging from or being suspended by something.
The word 'depend' carries the beautiful metaphor of hanging or being suspended, suggesting that what we depend on literally holds us up. This physical imagery helps explain why we say things 'depend on' other factors - they're metaphorically hanging from those supporting conditions.
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