The word pendant derives from the Latin word "pendere", and Old French word "pendre", both of which translate to "to hang down". It comes in the form of a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, which may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging” (also meaning “during”).Due to the extent to which the design of a pendant can be incorporated into an overall necklace it isn't always accurate to treat them as separate items. In some case though the separation between necklace and pendant is far clearer.