depend: [15] To depend on something is literally to ‘hang down’ from it. The word comes, via Old French dependre, from Latin dēpendēre, a compound verb formed from the prefix dē- ‘down’ and pendēre ‘hang’ (source of English pendant, pendulum, penthouse, and a host of derivatives from appendix to suspend). Its original literal sense survives in English, just, as a conscious archaism, but essentially the metaphorical extensions ‘be contingent’ (echoed in the parallel use of hang on) and ‘rely’ have taken the verb over. => appendix, pendent, pendulum, penthouse, suspend
depend (v.)
early 15c., "to be attached to as a condition or cause," a figurative use, from Middle French dependre, literally "to hang from, hang down," from Latin dependere "to hang from, hang down; be dependent on, be derived," from de- "from, down" (see de-) + pendere "to hang, be suspended" (see pendant). Related: Depended; depending.
雙語例句
1. Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think.--Dale Carnegie
請記住，幸福不在于你是誰或者你擁有什么，而僅僅取決于你的心態！
來自金山詞霸 每日一句
2. Whether such properties are a good deal will depend on individual situations.
這樣的地產是否可獲得大筆收益還要視具體情形而定。
來自柯林斯例句
3. They depend on the goodwill of visitors to pick up rubbish.
他們相信游客會自覺撿起垃圾。
來自柯林斯例句
4. The Oxfam shops depend on regular supplies of saleable items.
樂施商店靠出售一些人們定期捐贈的適銷物品維持經營。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Self-discipline, willingness, enthusiasm, that's what you must depend on.