Word Origin and History for attenuate Expand v. to make thin, to make less, 1520s, from Latin attenuatus enfeebled, weak, past participle of attenuare to make thin, lessen, diminish, from ad-to (see ad-) + tenuare make thin, from tenuis thin (see tenet).
Dependent Variable Definition: A dependent variable is the variable being tested in a scientific experiment. The dependent variable is 'dependent' on the independent variable. As the experimenter changes the independent variable, the change in the dependent variable is observed and recorded.
Home Â» Dependent variable. Definition. noun, plural: dependent variables. (1) The variable in a functional relation whose value is dependent upon, or influenced by, an independent variable. (2) A factor whose value changes when the independent variable is changed. (3) The variable whose value is measured to determine the extent of the effect of another variable to it, as in an experiment. An experiment is designed to see if a newly developed drug is effective in treating patients with cough.