Pend
/pɛnd/noun
To hang down or remain suspended; to be undecided or awaiting resolution.
Did you know?Pend is historically linked to Latin *pendere* “to hang, weigh,” the same root behind words like *depend* and *suspend*, where “waiting” once meant being physically held up.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kʷen-
“to hang, weigh”
Latin
Latin
pendere
“to hang; to weigh”
Latin
Latin
pendēre
“to be suspended; to hang down”
Old French
OF
pendre
“to hang; to suspend”
Middle English
English
penden
“to hang; to remain undecided”
Modern English
English
pend
“to hang down or remain unresolved”
Explore more surprising origins