ponder

What it means

1. To wonder, think of deeply.

   Some days, the whole cast of crabs would come out of their holes and ponder at the Fishers as if a storm is taking form.

   2023, Sunil Santha, Climate Change, Small-Scale Fisheries, and Blue Justice: Fishscapes and Alternative Worldviews, Taylor and Francis

2. To consider (something) carefully and thoroughly.

   I have spent days pondering the meaning of life.

   2 more examples

   Ponder the path of thy feet.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 4:26

   [A]lthough thou beeſt blameleſs and unſpotted as to thy outvvard Life and Converſation, ſo that none can ſay, black is thine Eye, as to any groſs Sin; yet knovv, that God pondereth thy Heart, and ranſacketh every Corner of thy Soul, and obſerves the Motions of thoſe very Luſts that vvar vvithin thee, and prevail againſt thee.

   a. 1709 (date delivered), William Beveridge, “Sermon LXXXV. Repentance, a Certain, and the Only Method of Obtaining Pardon.”, in The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. William Beveridge, Late Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. […], volume II, London: […] William Taylor, […], published 1720, →OCLC, page 69

   Synonyms: chew over, mull over

3. obsoleteTo weigh.

In a sentence

Some days, the whole cast of crabs would come out of their holes and ponder at the Fishers as if a storm is taking form.

2023, Sunil Santha, Climate Change, Small-Scale Fisheries, and Blue Justice: Fishscapes and Alternative Worldviews, Taylor and Francis

Where it comes from

1. Latinponderāre“to weigh, ponder”
2. Old Frenchponderer“to weigh, balance, ponder”
3. Middle Englishponderen
4. Englishponder

From Middle English ponderen, from Old French ponderer (“to weigh, balance, ponder”) from Latin ponderāre (“to weigh, ponder”), from pondus (“weight”), from pendere (“to weigh”); see pendent and pound.