The state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else. A territory or region controlled by another country.
From Latin 'dependere' meaning 'to hang down from', composed of 'de-' (down) and 'pendere' (to hang). The meaning evolved from physical hanging to metaphorical reliance by the 15th century.
The word beautifully captures the original Latin image of something literally hanging from something else, which perfectly describes how dependency works - one thing suspended and supported by another. In international relations, dependencies often have fascinating semi-autonomous statuses that blur the lines between independence and colonialism.
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