reliance

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English rely Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -iader. Old French -ancebor. Middle English -aunce English -ance English reliance From rely + -ance.

1. The act of relying (on or in someone or something); trust.

   “Your reliance on his expertise may be misplaced.”

   “[…] his days and times are past And my reliances on his fracted [i.e. broken] dates Have smit my credit:”

2. The condition of being reliant or dependent.

   “The industry is working to phase out its reliance on fossil fuels.”

   “[…] he contended that habitual reliance on engine power causes a pilot to lose his ability to make a forced landing “deadstick” if necessary.”

3. Anything on which to rely; ground of trust.

   “The boat was a poor reliance.”

   “Thou wert once the chiefe pillar of my posterity, and the whole reliance of my name:”

4. A person or thing which relies on another.