pondus Latin · revision 6441

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *(s)pend-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɔn.dʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɔn.dus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''pondus''' ''n'' (genitive ponderis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*pondos]], [[inh|ine-pro|*(s)pénd-os]], from the root [[ine-pro|*(s)pend-|t=to draw, stretch, hang]] of [[pendō]] “to weigh” and [[pendeō]] “to hang”.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) Isidore of Seville explained it as what hangs balanced in the scales.^(Isidore)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is the Twelve Tables, which he dates about 450 BC.^(Köbler 2010) The OLD's first citations are from Plautus, of weight and weights.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant weight, the amount something weighs, and weight as a property of matter, as in Juvenal.^(OLD 2012) It meant a weight used in scales, as Livy's false weights brought by the Gauls, in the plural a balance, and a unit of weight, a pound.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It meant mass or bulk, a heavy object, a load, and figuratively the burden of responsibility or age.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it also meant importance, influence, authority, as in Cicero, gravity of manner, and stability of character, as in Seneca.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant a pound, a hundredweight and the public weighing scales.^(Niermeyer 1976) Italian ''pondo'' survives.^(Wiktionary) From its ablative ''pondō'' “by weight” Germanic borrowed *punda-, whence Old English ''pund'' and [[en|pound]].^(Etymonline) [[en|ponder]] comes from its verb [[ponderō]] “to weigh”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of weight and weights.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of influence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * mid-14th century – English ''ponder'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[m|en|Weight]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # A weight (for scales), (plural) a balance; a pound.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Mass, bulk; a heavy object, load, burden.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Importance, influence, authority.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Gravity, dignity.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Stability, steadfastness.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ponderārium]]

+ * [[ponderitās]]

+ * [[ponderō]]

+ * [[ponderōsus]]

+ * [[pondiculum]]

+ * [[pondō]]

+ * [[pondusculum]]

+ * [[aequipondium]]

+ * [[assipondium]]

+ * [[centumpondium]]

+ * [[dupondius]]

+ * [[interpondium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pendō]]

+ * [[pendeō]]

+ * [[en|pound]]

+ * [[en|ponder]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}