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.
双语例句
1. Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think.--Dale Carnegie
请记住，幸福不在于你是谁或者你拥有什么，而仅仅取决于你的心态！
来自金山词霸 每日一句
2. Whether such properties are a good deal will depend on individual situations.
这样的地产是否可获得大笔收益还要视具体情形而定。
来自柯林斯例句
3. They depend on the goodwill of visitors to pick up rubbish.
他们相信游客会自觉捡起垃圾。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The Oxfam shops depend on regular supplies of saleable items.
乐施商店靠出售一些人们定期捐赠的适销物品维持经营。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Self-discipline, willingness, enthusiasm, that's what you must depend on.