Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēpenden v.
Entry Info
Forms | dēpenden v. |
Etymology | L & OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To hang down, grow down; (b) to overhang, be precipitous.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2612 : Whoo hath moche heer dependyng Atwen the browes.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2103 : Doun from a mounteyn, which was dependyng, She and hir child fill into the se.
2.
(a) To be uncertain; ~ atwen; hang in the balance between (death and victory), vacillate between (tears and laughter); ~ in, ~ with, ~ within, remain in (doubt, uncertainty); ~ in were (traunce), remain in fear or doubt, wait in fear (of death); (b) of lawsuits, etc.: to await settlement; ~ bitwen (bitwixt), be in dispute between (parties); (c) of guilt: to rest (upon sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1893 : Þei may be war..To gynne a þing which with [vrr. in, with in] noun-surte Dependeth ay, as strif, werre, and debate.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.75 : Þei and her cyte Shal mor & mor in were of deth depende.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3123 : Al ertheli blisse dependith in a weer, In a ballaunce oneuenli hangyng.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3405 : His [i.e. Oedipus'] liff dependyng a-twen deth and victory.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.405 : The hertis of men, dependyng in a traunce, To saue ther lyues coude no cheuisaunce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.1387 : Semblabli dependyng atween tweyne, The peeple wepte, & therwith reioisshyng.
b
- (1434) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.23183 : The whiche parties wylfully submitte hem..to abeie and abyde the awarde of us for all..discordes, causes and apeles and all materes dependyng or hyngyng betwene the said partyes.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2936 : She was ther iuge and..Causis dependyng..That stood in doute, bi doom off equite She tried hem out.
- (1471) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.4209 : Matieres of variaunces dependinge bytwyxt..the Bisshop of Sarum, you and the Comminalte.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6924 : On the and me dependith the trespace.
3.
(a) To owe existence, character, or quality (to sth.); be conditioned or controlled (by sth.); ~ of (in, on); (b) ~ on, of an article of faith: to owe validity to (a doctrine); (c) law ~ upon, to grow out of (a decree, a decision, an action); owe validity to; (d) ~ to, to be subsidiary to (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)165b/b : Som [medicynes]..ar seid complexionalez & qualitatyuez, for þai depende i. hingeþ of þe qualiteez of elementez.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)52 : Who gothe to-forne or who..be-hynde, All dependeth in goddes ordynaunce.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.51 : Ther weelfare..dependith nat on chaunce.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.194 : Noght onely of þe soules wilfulnesse, Thise bestes louen to lyuen..Bot principally dependeth it..Of verray hye principalles of nature.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)2946 : For eche off other hath gynnyng, And ys on other dependyng.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)52ab : The sowle & helth of my fader dependeth of this child.
b
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)6986 : 'Ther ys but o god & no mo'..And the Remnaunt off Artycles..Euerychon, her-on depende.
c
- (1442) RParl.5.42b : That the seide entre so made be the seide Beseecher..be good, juste, effectuell and availlable in lawe..the seide clause of Purveu, or any thyng conteyned there yn, and all thyng folowed, dependyng, and executed there oppon, notwithstondyng.
- (1449) RParl.5.170a : For gret feer and drede of the seyd Acte, and proces therupon dependyng, youre seyd Besechers durst in no wyse appere atte the seyd moys.
d
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.257 : The realmes of Assiria..and of Romanes..were..moste principalle..and other realmes and kynges were as dependenge to theyme.