pendant

[pen-duhnt]

noun

1. a hanging ornament, as an earring or the main piece suspended from a necklace.

2. an ornament suspended from a roof, vault, or ceiling.

3. a hanging electrical lighting fixture; chandelier.

4. that by which something is suspended, as the ringed stem of a watch.

5. a match, parallel, companion, or counterpart.

6. Nautical.,  Also a length of rope attached to a masthead, the end of a yardarm, etc., and having a block or thimble secured to its free end.

adjective

1. pendent.

pendant

/ ˈpɛndənt /

noun

1. 1. an ornament that hangs from a piece of jewellery

   2. a necklace with such an ornament

2. a hanging light, esp a chandelier

3. a carved ornament that is suspended from a ceiling or roof

4. something that matches or complements something else

5. Also called: pennant. nautical a length of wire or rope secured at one end to a mast or spar and having a block or other fitting at the lower end

adjective

1. a variant spelling of pendent

Other Word Forms

• pendanted adjective
• pendantlike adjective
• nonpendant adjective
• unpendant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pendant¹

1300–50; Middle English pendaunt < Anglo-French; Middle French pendant, noun use of present participle of pendre to hang < Vulgar Latin *pendere for Latin pendēre. See pend, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of pendant¹

C14: from Old French, from pendre to hang, from Latin pendēre to hang down; related to Latin pendere to hang, pondus weight, Greek span to pull

Example Sentences

Around his neck he wears as a pendant a mezuzah, which contains a small scroll with verses from the Torah.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After much trial and error, the final product was a delicate rose gold chain with a small round pendant holding the baby’s breath bloom.

Read more on Salon

The doll boasted accessories, including a handbag and pendants.

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NRS, which employs about 1,500 people across the UK and is based in Leicestershire, finds and supplies a wide range of equipment from wheelchairs and hoists to hospital beds and pendants which monitor falls.

Read more on BBC

The two men were arrested attempting to board a bus carrying a switchblade and a stolen pendant, the news outlet reported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dangling www.thesaurus.com
• hanging 
• overhanging www.thesaurus.com
• pendent 
• pendulous 
• pensile