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What word can fill in the blanks in the following pair of analogous sentences?

If B is necessary to A, then A depends on B and A is dependent.
If B is necessary to A, then B __________ A and B is _________.

Is there a word, the opposite of "dependent", meaning "is depended on"?

Edit: 'requisite' fits the second blank:

If B is necessary to A, then B __________ A and B is requisite.

I don't know a form of 'requisite' that can fill the first.

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    You could say B 'serves' A, and B is 'of service'. Or B 'helps' A, and B is 'helpful'. Or B 'provides for' A, and B is 'independent'.
    – Yosef Baskin
    Jun 14, 2017 at 21:50

2 Answers 2

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B 'is required by' A, and B is requisite.

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provide

If B is necessary to A, then B provides for A and B is a provider or providing.

to make arrangements for supplying means of support, money, etc. (usually followed by for): He provided for his children in his will.

to supply means of support (often followed by for): http://www.dictionary.com/browse/provide

Other words:

  • support If B is necessary to A, then B supports A and B is a supporter or supporting.
  • supply If B is necessary to A, then B supplies A and B is a supplier or supplying.
  • care If B is necessary to A, then B cares for A and B is a caregiver or caregiving.
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  • The system flags duplicate answers. Please do not post duplicate answers. As doing so indicates that the questions are duplicates, please flag for closure as duplicates instead [and, when you reach 3k rep, vote for closure].
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Jun 27, 2017 at 8:58

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