ponder

One entry found for ponder.

Main Entry: pon·der
Pronunciation: 'pän-d&r
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): pon·dered; pon·der·ing /-d(&-)ri[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French ponderer, from Latin ponderare to weigh, ponder, from ponder-, pondus weight -- more at PENDANT
transitive verb
1 : to weigh in the mind : APPRAISE <pondered their chances of success>
2 : to think about : reflect on <pondered the events of the day>
intransitive verb : to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply
- pon·der·er /-d&r-&r/ noun
synonyms PONDER, MEDITATE, MUSE, RUMINATE mean to consider or examine attentively or deliberately. PONDER implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a matter <pondered the course of action>. MEDITATE implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something so as to understand it deeply <meditated on the meaning of life>. MUSE suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance <mused upon childhood joys>. RUMINATE implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of either purposive thinking or rapt absorption <ruminated on past disappointments>.