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Involving an option; depending on the exercise of an option; left to one's discretion or choice; not compulsory; as, optional studies; it is optional with you to go or stay. -- n.

A laying out or expending.

To hang; to depend. [R.] Pending upon certain powerful motions. I. Taylor.

Supported from above; suspended; depending; pendulous; hanging; as, a pendent leaf. "The pendent world." Shak. Often their tresses, when shaken, with pendent icicles tinkle. Longfellow.

Depending; pendent loosely; hanging; swinging. Shak. "The pendulous round earth. Milton.

Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. Addison.

Depending on, or derived from, prescription; proper to be prescribed. Grafton.

Given to extravagant expenditure; expending money or other things without necessity; recklessly or viciously profuse; lavish; wasteful; not frugal or economical; as, a prodigal man; the prodigal son; prodigal giving; prodigal expenses. In fighting fields [patriots] were prodigal of blood. Dryden.

ted to an inferior court, commanding the latter to cease from the prosecution of a suit depending before it. Blackstone.

The quotient of two vectors, or of two directed right lines in space, considered as depending on four geometrical elements, and as expressible by an algebraic symbol of quadrinomial form.

One of two suspending posts in a roof truss, or other framed truss of similar form. See King-post.

o receive, and hold in trust, money or other property which is the subject of litigation, pending the suit; a person appointed to take charge of the estate and effects of a corporation, and to do other acts necessary to winding up its affairs, in certain cases. Bouvier.

n the number of tricks over or under the contract, according to a defined schedule, and depending on the vulnerability of the side attempting the contract.

revolution or revolutions; rotating; -- used also figuratively of time, seasons, etc., depending on the revolution of the earth. But grief returns with the revolving year. Shelley. Revolving seasons, fruitless as they pass. Cowper. Revolving firearm. See Revolver. -- Revolving light, a light or lamp in a lighthouse s…

he safety of; to preserve from injury, destruction, or evil of any kind; to rescue from impending danger; as, to save a house from the flames. God save all this fair company. Chaucer. He cried, saying, Lord, save me. Matt. xiv. 30. Thou hast . . . quitted all to save A world from utter loss. Milton.…

Agreeing with, or depending on, the rules or principles of science; as, a scientific classification; a scientific arrangement of fossils.

Acting of one's self or of itself; acting without depending on other agents.

Dependent on one's self; self-depending; self-reliant.

The act of aiding one's self, without depending on the aid of others.

Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as, sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by irritation. E. Darwin. Sensitive fern (Bot.), an American fern (Onoclea sensibilis), the leaves of which, when plucked, show a slight tendency to fold together. -- Sensitive flame (Physics), a gas flame…