dependence
Pluraldependences (some meanings)
- 1The state of relying on another person or thing for support, help, or survival.
Like a vine that climbs only by clinging to a stronger tree for support.
Years of financial dependence on his family left him anxious about living alone.
The region's economic dependence on a single crop made it vulnerable to droughts.
Similarreliance, dependency
Oppositeindependence, self-sufficiency, autonomy, self-reliance
Note
Built in English from depend and -ence, with Middle French dépendance behind it, the noun keeps the verb's partner preposition: a dependence on someone, or on something, for guidance or support. It can be counted as well as not. Use a dependence, or several dependences, when you mean one particular reliance rather than the general condition.
- 2An overpowering physical or psychological need, especially for a drug or other chemical substance.
Like a machine tuned to run on one fuel: take it away and the whole system falters.
Long-term use of the sedative led to a physical dependence that made stopping dangerous.
Psychological dependence on gambling can be as hard to break as a chemical one.
Similaraddiction, dependency, habit
Note
Here the reliance of the general sense narrows to the body and mind, and leaning on something becomes a need that cannot be refused. It still takes on: dependence on cocaine, on a sedative. Clinicians keep it apart from addiction. Dependence is the adaptation itself, while addiction adds compulsive use despite harm.
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Origin
This word comes from Middle French 'dépendance', and can also be analyzed as 'depend' plus the suffix '-ence'.