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pen·dant¹ also pen·dent

(pĕndənt)

1. Something suspended from something else, especially an ornament or piece of jewelry attached to a necklace or bracelet.

2. A hanging lamp or chandelier.

3. A sculptured ornament suspended from a vaulted Gothic roof or ceiling.

4. One of a matched pair; a companion piece.

[Middle English pendaunt, from Old French pendant, from present participle of pendre, to hang, from Vulgar Latin *pendere, from Latin pendēre; see (s)pen- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

pen·dent¹ also pen·dant

(pĕndənt)

adj.

1. Hanging down; dangling; suspended.

2. Projecting; overhanging.

3. Awaiting settlement; pending.

[Middle English pendant (influenced by Latin pendēns, pendent-, present participle of pendēre, to hang), from Old French; see PENDANT¹.]

pendent·ly adv.

pen·dant²

(pĕndənt)

adj.

Variant of pendent¹.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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