time-dependent
|time-de-pend-ent|
/ˌtaɪm dɪˈpɛndənt/
depends on time
Etymology
'time-dependent' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'time' and 'dependent'. 'time' comes from Old English 'tīma' meaning 'time, period', while 'dependent' traces back to Latin 'dependere' (via Old French and Middle English), where 'de-' meant 'down/from' and 'pendere' meant 'to hang'.
'dependent' changed from Latin 'dependere' to Old French forms and Middle English 'dependant', eventually becoming the Modern English 'dependent'. 'time' comes from Old English 'tīma' and has remained recognizable through Middle English into Modern English; the compound 'time-dependent' is a modern (post-Industrial-Revolution/20th-century scientific) formation used in technical and general contexts.
Initially the roots meant 'time/period' and 'to hang/ be contingent'; combined, they originally conveyed 'contingent on time' and have retained that core meaning, now used widely in science, engineering, and general English to indicate reliance on time.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the dependence of something on time; the way a quantity or behavior changes over time (expressed as 'time dependence').
The time dependence of the signal reveals underlying processes.
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Adjective 1
varying according to time; whose behavior or value depends on time.
The model includes time-dependent parameters to capture seasonal effects.
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Adjective 2
requiring consideration of time as a factor (e.g., in analysis or measurement).
Be careful: these measurements are time-dependent and cannot be compared directly.
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Adverb 1
in a manner that depends on time; with behavior that varies over time (expressed as 'time-dependently').
The coefficients change time-dependently in this formulation.
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Last updated: 2025/10/14 06:03