dependence
UK[dɪˈpɛndəns]US[dɪˈpɛndəns]
n
The state of needing the help and support of someone or something in order to survive or be successful.
n
The fact of being addicted to a particular substance, especially a drug.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
pend
ence
de
down
pend
hang
ence
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'dependence' has a clear and logical evolution from a physical concept to an abstract state. Its core is the Latin verb pendere, meaning "to hang", which itself traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root (s)pen(d)-, meaning "to pull, stretch, or spin". The prefix de- intensifies the sense of hanging "down from" something. Thus, the literal meaning is "the state of hanging down from" a source of support. Over time, this concrete image of physical suspension evolved metaphorically into the modern abstract meanings: the condition of relying on something for support (as if hanging from it) and, more specifically, the state of being controlled by an addictive substance.
Analysis
Structure: de (down) + pend (hang) + ence (noun suffix)
de: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "down" or "away from".
pend: Latin origin (from pendere, to hang), the core root conveying the sense of hanging.
ence: Latin origin (via Old French -ence), a noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition.
Examples
The country aims to reduce its dependence on imported oil.
Children's dependence on their parents decreases as they grow older.
He sought treatment for his alcohol dependence.