pendant

Alternative forms

• pendaunt (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman pendaunt, Middle French pendant, noun use of adjective.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛnd(ə)nt/
• Homophone: pendent

Noun

pendant (plural pendants)

1. (architecture) A supporting post attached to the main rafter. [from 14th c.]
2. (obsolete, in the plural) Testicles. [15th-17th c.]
3. A piece of jewellery which hangs down as an ornament, especially worn on a chain around the neck. [from 15th c.]
4. (nautical) A short rope hanging down, used to attach hooks for tackles; a pennant. [from 15th c.]
5. The dangling part of an earring. [from 16th c.]
6. (obsolete) An appendix or addition, as to a book.
   • Keightley

     Many […] have been pleased with this work and its pendant, the Tales and Popular Fictions.

7. (fine arts) One of a pair; a counterpart.

   One vase is the pendant to the other vase.

8. (obsolete) A pendulum.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir K. Digby to this entry?)

9. (US) The stem and ring of a watch, by which it is suspended.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)

Etymology

From French pendant (“counterpart”), from pendre (“to hang”), from Latin pendere (“to hang”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /panɡdanɡ/, [pʰɑŋˈd̥ɑŋ]

Noun

pendant c (singular definite pendanten, plural indefinite pendanter)

1. counterpart
2. match
3. fellow
4. companion

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɑ̃.dɑ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

pendant (feminine singular pendante, masculine plural pendants, feminine plural pendantes)

1. hanging

Noun

pendant m (plural pendants)

1. stone that dangles on earrings
2. match, counterpart

Preposition

pendant

1. during, throughout, for the duration of

Verb

pendant

1. present participle of pendre

Further reading

• “pendant” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

From French pendant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /panˈdan/

Noun

pendant m (invariable)

1. match (matching item)
2. pendant (dangling earing)

Verb

pendant

1. third-person plural present active subjunctive of pendō