Dependent

A dependent is an element of a phrase that is not its head.

Synonyms

• modifier (i.e. dependent)
• attribute (i.e. dependent)

See also head vs. dependent.

Origin

The term dependent as the counterpart of head is much more recent than head, but at least since Nichols (1986) it has become widely known and used.

Reference

• Nichols, Johanna. 1986. "Head-marking and dependent-marking grammar." Language 62:56-119.

other languages

• German Dependens
• Russian зависимое, зависимое слово, зависимый член, зависимый компонент, слуга