1630s; see independent + -ence. Earlier in same sense was independency (1610s). U.S. Independence Day (July 4) recorded under that name by 1791. An Old English word for it was selfdom, with dom "law."
权威例句
1. The pull-out of the army paves the way for independence.
军队的撤出为独立铺平了道路。
2. The treaty binds them to respect their neighbour's independence.
条约规定他们必须尊重其邻国的独立。
3. Estonia said it too planned to hold a referendum on independence.
爱沙尼亚称其也计划就独立问题进行全民公决。
4. Slovenia will have to pay a high price for independence.
斯洛文尼亚将为独立付出巨大的代价。
5. Many Croats and Slovenes saw independence as the fast track to democracy.