'source-dependent' is a compound of 'source' and 'dependent'. 'source' originates from Old French 'sourse' (or 'sourse') from Latin 'surgere', where 'surgere' meant 'to rise' (hence 'spring' or 'origin'). 'dependent' originates from Latin 'dependēre', where the prefix 'de-' meant 'down/from' and 'pendere' meant 'to hang'.

'source' entered English via Old French (Middle English adopted forms like 'sourc(e)') and evolved to mean 'origin' or 'place where something springs forth'. 'dependent' came into English through Latin and Old French (e.g. medieval forms related to 'dependre') and developed into modern English 'dependent'. The compound 'source-dependent' is a modern English formation combining these elements.

Individually, 'source' originally referred to a spring or rising place and became 'origin'; 'dependent' originally meant 'to hang down' and evolved to mean 'relying on'. Combined, the compound came to mean 'relying on the origin' or 'varying with the origin'.