DEPENDANT ?E?I?N?

[whitejack]

I think the answer could be RELIANT but that is an adj. and DEPENDANT is a noun. Any advice please?

[mike11111]

Dependant is an adjective as well as a noun so you may well be right with RELIANT.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, would have to be DEPENDENT for RELIANT to be right, but so many people misspell it maybe the compiler mispells it too.

[mike11111]

I bow to Factor 30 and acknowledge my own ignorance. Dependent is indeed an adjective whilst Dependant is a noun. This must be unique inasmuch as dependent (from the Latin dependere [3rd conjugation] - to hang down) has a nominal form derived from the first conjugation. Perhaps a Latinist (I only have a modest grade at A level) could explain this dichotomy.

[mathsman]

dependant ; dependent person. XVI. — F. dépendant, sb. use of prp. of dépendre.

[mike11111]

Now that makes sense. Never made the connection with the French form of the verb.

[whitejack]

Many thanks for all your help.