Definition: (followed by on or upon, formerly also by of) To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition; to hinge on.

Alright class, settle down, let’s take a look! Today we’re tackling ‘depending,’ and it's a word that needs a little unpacking. The dictionary gives us a mouthful - “contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition; to hinge on.” Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense. Think of it like this: depending means that something relies on another thing for it to happen. It's not independent, it needs support! Let’s use an example – “I’m depending on the rain to water my garden.” See? I need the rain to be there for my plants to thrive. If the rain doesn’t come, my garden won't flourish - it's conditional, right? It 'hinges' on that rainfall. It’s like building a tower – you need a solid base (that’s the necessary condition) before you can build upwards. If the base isn't strong, the whole thing will tumble! The phrase “depending on ” or “depending upon ” just helps to make that connection clearer. It tells us exactly what we’re relying on. So, remember: depending means reliant, conditional – it needs something else to be true for it to work. Do you have any questions about this concept? Let's discuss!