different between preponderance vs ponder

English

Etymology

From preponderant +? -ance (suffix forming nouns indicating a condition or state); preponderant is derived from Latin praeponder?ns, the present active participle, or praeponderant, the third-person plural present active indicative, of praeponder? (“to give more influence or weight to, preponderate”), from prae- (prefix meaning ‘before; in front’) + ponder? (“to weigh; to ponder, reflect on, weigh up”) (from pondus (“weight; a pound; consequence, importance”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pend- (“to stretch”)).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p???p?nd???ns/, /p???p?nd??ns/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p???p?nd???ns/, /p???p?nd??ns/
• Hyphenation: pre?pon?der?ance

Noun

preponderance (countable and uncountable, plural preponderances)

1. (obsolete) Greater physical weight.

   Synonym: (obsolete) preponderancy

   1. (specifically, weaponry, historical) The excess of weight of that part of a cannon behind the trunnions over that in front of them.
2. Superiority in amount or number; the bulk or majority; also, a large amount or number; an abundance, a profusion.

   Synonym: (obsolete) preponderancy
3. Superiority of influence, power, a quality, etc.; an outweighing, predominance, pre-eminence.

   Synonyms: (obsolete) preponderancy, preponderation

Alternative forms

• praeponderance (obsolete, rare)
• præponderance (obsolete, rare)

Derived terms

• preponderance of evidence, preponderance of the evidence

Related terms

Translations

References

Further reading

• preponderance in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• preponderance in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p?n.d?(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p?n.d?/
• Rhymes: -?nd?(?)

Verb

ponder (third-person singular simple present ponders, present participle pondering, simple past and past participle pondered)

1. To wonder, think of deeply.
2. To consider (something) carefully and thoroughly.

   Synonyms: chew over, mull over; see also Thesaurus:ponder
3. (obsolete) To weigh.

Related terms

Translations

Noun

ponder (plural ponders)

1. (colloquial) A period of deep thought.

Further reading

• ponder in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ponder in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Penrod, proned