1640s, "during, in the process of," preposition formed from root of French pendant "during," literally "hanging," present participle of pendere "to hang, to suspend" (see pendant). Meaning patterned on a secondary sense of Latin pendente "not decided," literally "hanging," in legal phrase pendente lite "while the suit is pending." Use of the present participle before nouns caused it to be regarded as a preposition. As an adjective from 1797.
实用例句
1. She had a libel action against the magazine pending.
她对该杂志提起的诽谤诉讼尚未判决。
来自柯林斯例句
2. All charges against her are dropped pending the verification of her story.
在她的事情核实之前，所有针对她的指控都已撤回。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Mendoza is here pending his request for political asylum.
