codependent
|co-de-pend-ent|
🇺🇸
/ˌkoʊdɪˈpɛndənt/
🇬🇧
/ˌkəʊdɪˈpɛndənt/
mutual reliance
Etymology
'codependent' originates from the prefix 'co-' meaning 'together' and the word 'dependent,' which comes from Latin 'dependere,' meaning 'to hang down from.'
'codependent' evolved from the concept of 'dependent' relationships, emphasizing mutual reliance.
Initially, it meant 'mutually dependent,' but over time it evolved to describe relationships where one person's needs are subordinate to another's pathological condition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
exhibiting a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (such as an addiction to alcohol or heroin).
She realized she was in a codependent relationship with her partner.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:45