The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Dependence \De*pend"ence\, n. [LL. dependentia, fr. L.
   dependens. See Dependent, and cf. Dependance.]
   1. The act or state of depending; state of being dependent; a
      hanging down or from; suspension from a support.
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   2. The state of being influenced and determined by something;
      subjection (as of an effect to its cause).
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            The cause of effects, and the dependence of one
            thing upon another.                   --Bp. Burnet.
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   3. Mutual connection and support; concatenation; systematic
      inter-relation.
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            So dark and so intricate of purpose, without any
            dependence or order.                  --Sir T. More.
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   4. Subjection to the direction or disposal of another;
      inability to help or provide for one's self; a lack of
      independence or self-sufficiency.

   Syn: dependance, dependency.
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              Reduced to a servile dependence on their mercy.
                                                  --Burke.
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   5. A resting with confidence; reliance; trust.
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            Affectionate dependence on the Creator is the
            spiritual life of the soul.           --T. Erskine.
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   6. That on which one depends or relies; as, he was her sole
      dependence.
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   7. That which depends; anything dependent or suspended;
      anything attached a subordinate to, or contingent on,
      something else.
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            Like a large cluster of black grapes they show
            And make a large dependence from the bough.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   8. A matter depending, or in suspense, and still to be
      determined; ground of controversy or quarrel. [Obs.]
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            To go on now with my first dependence. --Beau. & Fl.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

dependence
    n 1: the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or
         something else [syn: dependence, dependance,
         dependency]
    2: being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that
       is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially
       alcohol or narcotic drugs) [syn: addiction, dependence,
       dependance, dependency, habituation]