Ponder

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɒn.də(ɹ)/

Definitions

1. To think about something carefully and at length, often in a reflective or meditative manner
2. To engage in extended and serious thought about a subject or situation
3. To reflect carefully on facts or ideas before making a decision

Etymology: Before it meant "think carefully," "ponder" was a physical act: weighing something on a scale. The English word comes from Middle English "ponderen," borrowed from Old French "ponderer," which in turn came from Latin "ponderāre," "to weigh." That Latin verb is built on "pondus," meaning "weight," which grew out of "pendere," "to weigh" or "to hang," the same root behind "pendent" and "pound," the unit of weight. The mental sense grew from the image of a balance. To ponder something was to set its considerations on the scales and judge how heavily each one tipped, so the shift from measuring objects to measuring ideas was a natural step. The word's mental sense is therefore a metaphor built on the older, literal business of weighing.

Synonyms: consider, reflect, contemplate, meditate, mull

Antonyms: dismiss, ignore, overlook, neglect, reject