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.
dependent variable. n. 1. (Mathematics) a variable in a mathematical equation or statement whose value depends on that taken on by the independent variable: in y = f(x), y'is the dependent variable. 2. (Psychology) psychol statistics the variable measured by the experimenter.