Depends upon is commonly spelled as two separate words, with the stress falling on the second syllable of "depends" and the first syllable of "upon". The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /dɪˈpɛndz əˈpɒn/. The first syllable is pronounced as "dih" with the short "i" sound, the stress falls on the second syllable, and the final syllable of "upon" is pronounced with the "ah" sound. This phrase is commonly used to indicate that something is reliant on another factor or variables.
The phrase "depends upon" is commonly used to convey the idea of reliance or contingency. It signifies that the outcome or success of something is influenced or determined by another factor or variable. This phrase suggests that a certain situation, decision, or course of action hinges on specific circumstances or conditions.
When something "depends upon" another thing, it implies that the former is not able to exist, function, or progress independently, but is instead reliant on external factors. This dependence can be seen across various contexts, such as personal relationships, scientific research, business operations, or even philosophical concepts.
The phrase often implies a cause-and-effect relationship, where the outcome is subject to a particular condition. It suggests that without the necessary factors being present or fulfilled, the desired result may not be achieved. It conveys the idea that the success, progress, or validity of something is contingent on certain criteria being met or specific variables being in place.
In summary, "depends upon" is a phrase that denotes reliance or necessity for success. It implies that the achievement or outcome of something is influenced or dictated by external factors or conditions. It signifies the interdependency between different elements in achieving a particular result.
The etymology of the phrase "depends upon" can be traced back to the Old French word "dependre", which means "to hang down, to be hanging" or "to depend". This word originated from the Latin "dependēre", which has the same meaning. The Latin term is a combination of "de", meaning "down", and "pendēre", meaning "to hang". Over time, the phrase "depends upon" evolved in the English language to convey the idea of relying on or being influenced by something.