--
Ph Coquel
Annecy, France
http://www.yourdictionary.com/index.shtml
Independence(Noun)
Pronunciation: [in-dê-'pen-dêns]
Definition 1: Freedom from control by outside agents or influence,
self-reliance, self-governance.
Usage 1: "Independence" is the noun from "independent." We mention this
because today is Independence Day in the States, the day we celebrate the
proclamation of our independence from Great Britain in our aptly named
Declaration of Independence, signed down the road from yourDictionary in
Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 by 56 courageous men. For an accurate account
of their lives, read this page:
http://www.phillytalkradioonline.com/comment/declaration-signers.html . If
you have ever wanted to hear the whole story on "Yankee Doodle," read Audra
Himes' commentary at http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/yankee.html .
Suggested usage: As we celebrate the 4th of July we should be sure to offer
a toast to France and its people, whose aid was critical in winning our
independence. Let us remember how LaFayette and Rochambault fought alongside
Washington in the final days of the Revolutionary War, while Admiral
DeGrasse's fleet prevented Cornwallis from escaping from Yorktown. In 1778
France became the first nation to recognize the United States. It supplied
us with uniforms, arms, and the credit with which we paid for them. The very
symbol of our independence, the Statue of Liberty, was a gift of the French.
Etymology: "Independent" is composed of in- "un-, not" + dependent.
"Dependent" comes from the Latin present participle "depend-ens" from
dependere "to hang from, depend." This verb contains de- "from" and pendere
"to hang," akin to Latin pondo "by weight" from which we borrowed "pound."
Pondere "to weigh, ponder" is the origin of this word. The English word
"spin" comes from the same root, *(s)pen-, with an [s] that is sometimes
there, sometimes not. The Old English word "spithra" was originally spinthra
"spinner." Today it is "spider."
