ponder Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb reflect deeply on a subject
ruminate; mull; muse; think over; reflect; contemplate; meditate; chew over; mull over; excogitate; speculate.
- I mulled over the events of the afternoon
- philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years
- The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate

L. ponderare, fr. pondus, ponderis, a weight, fr. pendere to weigh: cf. F. pondérer. See Pendant, and cf. Pound a weight.

imperfect & past participle Pondered ; present participle & verbal noun Pondering

To weigh. Obs.
To weigh in the mind; to view with deliberation; to examine carefully; to consider attentively.
Ponder the path of thy feet. Prov. iv. 26.
Syn. -- To Ponder, Consider, Muse. To consider means to view or contemplate with fixed thought. To ponder is to dwell upon with long and anxious attention, with a view to some practical result or decision. To muse is simply to think upon continuously with no definite object, or for the pleasure it gives. We consider any subject which is fairly brought before us; we ponder a concern involving great interests; we muse on the events of childhood.

To think; to deliberate; to muse; -- usually followed by on or over. Longfellow.