ponderous — very heavy and awkward to move or carry
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: very heavy and awkward to move or carry
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɑːndərəs/
Example Sentences
- The elephant's ponderous steps shook the entire circus tent.
- My professor's ponderous lectures could cure insomnia better than sleeping pills.
- The ponderous legal document was 500 pages of pure boredom.
ponderous
ADJECTIVE[/ˈpɑːndərəs/]
very heavy and awkward to move or carry
While the light runner easily jumped the fence, the knight in full armor made a slow, ponderous attempt to climb over it.
PONDER(think deeply) + OUS(state) — lost in deep thought, the philosopher walked with a slow, heavy, and ponderous step.
Ponderous and thunderous — too heavy to feel wondrous.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'ponderosus,' derived from 'ponderare' meaning 'to weigh or consider,' which comes from 'pondus' meaning 'weight.' The word entered English through Old French and Latin, retaining its sense of heaviness and weightiness.
Breakdown
pond- (from Latin 'pondus' meaning weight) + -erous (adjective suffix meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by') = ponderous (full of weight, heavy and cumbersome)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The elephant's ponderous steps shook the entire circus tent.”
“My professor's ponderous lectures could cure insomnia better than sleeping pills.”
“The ponderous legal document was 500 pages of pure boredom.”
“Moving the ponderous grand piano required five strong men.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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