Middle English Dictionary Entry

dēpenden v.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) To hang down, grow down; (b) to overhang, be precipitous.
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.).
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.).