Dependent \De*pend"ent\, a. [L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See Depend, and cf. Dependant.]

1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf. [1913 Webster]

2. Relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not able to exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will, power, or aid of something else; not self-sustaining; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on God; dependent upon friends. Opposite of independent. [Narrower terms: interdependent, mutualist, mutually beneficial; parasitic, parasitical, leechlike, bloodsucking; subordinate; underage; myrmecophilous; symbiotic] Also See: unfree. [1913 Webster]

England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first rank. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

3. conditional; contingent or conditioned. Opposite of unconditional.

Syn: qualified. [WordNet 1.5]

4. addicted to drugs.

Syn: addicted, dependent, drug-addicted, hooked, strung-out. [WordNet 1.5]

Dependent covenant or Dependent contract (Law), one not binding until some connecting stipulation is performed.

Dependent variable (Math.), a varying quantity whose changes are arbitrary, but are regarded as produced by changes in another variable, which is called the independent variable. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48