ponder
pronunciation
How to pronounce ponder in British English:
UK [ˈpɒndə(r)]
How to pronounce ponder in American English:
US [ˈpɑːndər]
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- Verb:
- reflect deeply on a subject
Word Origin
- ponder
- ponder: [14] To ponder something is etymologically to ‘weigh’ it up. The word comes via Old French ponderer from Latin ponderāre ‘weigh’, hence ‘consider’ (source also of English preponderate [17]). This was derived from pondus ‘weight’ (source of English ponderous [14]), a relative of pendere ‘weigh’ (source of English compendium [16], compensate [17], dispense, expense, pansy, pension [14], pensive [14], peseta [19], poise [15], and spend) and pendēre ‘hang’ (from which English gets pendant, pendulum, etc).Also closely related is English pound, the unit of weight.=> compendium, compensate, dispense, expense, pansy, pendant, pendulum, pension, pensive, peseta, poise, pound, preponderate, spend
- ponder (v.)
- early 14c., "to estimate the worth of, to appraise," from Old French ponderer "to weigh, poise" (14c., Modern French pondérer) and directly from Latin ponderare "ponder, consider, reflect," literally "to weigh," from pondus (genitive ponderis) "weigh" (see pound (n.1)). Meaning "to weigh a matter mentally" is attested from late 14c. Related: Pondered; pondering; ponderation.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Consulting buzzwords , no ambiguity , just a simple question for all of us to ponder .
- 2. That is a question many independents should ponder .
- 3. One may ponder that our lives owe too much to this concept .
- 4. Let 's ponder this situation from some different perspectives since the same issue can have multiple causes .
- 5. Isigh , and walk upstairs to ponder the mummies for a while by myself .