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. Also Nautical. 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 calledpennant 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 Words From

• pendant·ed adjective
• pendant·like adjective
• non·pendant adjective
• un·pendant 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

In an Instagram video the day before, she had worn a red and silver pendant of the archangel Michael, his wings spread out in triumph, a shield in one hand and a sword in another.

From Los Angeles Times

The Archangel Michael is the patron saint of police officers, so I wanted to ask Jurado if her pendant was a sly dig at her antagonists.

From Los Angeles Times

I pulled Jurado aside for a quick interview and immediately asked about the archangel Michael pendant.

From Los Angeles Times

The late 5th to early 6th Century pendant was created at a time when Anglo-Saxons were pagans, which was "slightly ironic", said coin expert Adrian Marsden.

From BBC

He also suggested the pendant could have been part of a burial, rather than having been lost, indicating it came from the owner's grave which was ploughed up over the centuries until it finally rose close enough to the surface for the detectorist to find.

From BBC

Related Words

• jewelry