dependence
/dɪˈpɛndəns/ noun
Forms dependences dependance
- noun The state of being dependent, of relying upon another. “He had a deep dependence on her for guidance.”
- noun An irresistible physical or psychological need, especially for a chemical substance. “Her dependence on cocaine led to her ruin.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle French dépendance. Morphologically depend + -ence.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act or state of depending; state of being dependent; a hanging down or from; suspension from a support.
- noun The state of being influenced and determined by something; subjection (as of an effect to its cause).
Etymology [LL. dependentia, fr. L. dependens. See Dependent, and cf. Dependance.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “dependence”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details