Pon`der*a"tion (?), n. [L. ponderatio: cf. F. pondÈration.] The act of
weighing. [R.] Arbuthnot.
Pon"der*er (?), n. One who ponders.
Pon"der*ing, a. Deliberating. -- Pon"der*ing*ly, adv.
Pon`der*os"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Ponderosities (#). [OF. ponderositÈ.] The
quality or state of being ponderous; weight; gravity; heaviness,
ponderousness; as, the ponderosity of gold. Ray.
Pon"der*ous (?), a. [L. ponderosus, from pondus, -eris, a weight: cf.
F. pondÈreux. See Ponder.] 1. Very heavy; weighty; as, a ponderous
shield; a ponderous load; the ponderous elephant.
The sepulcher . . . Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws.
Shak.
2. Important; momentous; forcible. "Your more ponderous and settled
project." Shak.
3. Heavy; dull; wanting; lightless or spirit; as, a ponderous style; a
ponderous joke.
Ponderous spar (Min.), heavy spar, or barytes. See Barite.
Pon"der*ous*ly, adv. In a ponderous manner.
Pon"der*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being ponderous;
ponderosity.
Pond"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any one of numerous species of American
fresh-water fishes belonging to the family CentrarchidÊ; -- called also
pond perch, and sunfish.
The common pondfish of New England (Lepomis gibbosus) is called also
bream, pumpkin seed, and sunny. See Sunfish. The long-eared pondfish
(Lepomis auritus) of the Eastern United States is distinguished by its
very long opercular flap.
Pond"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any aquatic plant of the genus Potamogeton,
of which many species are found in ponds or slow-moving rivers.
Choke pondweed, an American water weed (Anarcharis, or Elodea,
Canadensis.) See Anacharis. -- Horned pondweed, the Zannichellia
palustris, a slender, branching aquatic plant, having pointed nutlets.
Pone (pn), n. [Of Amer. Indian origin.] A kind of johnnycake. [Written
also paune.] [Southern U. S.]
Po"nent (?), a. [OF., fr. It. ponente, properly, setting (applied to
the setting sun), fr. L. ponens, p. pr. of ponere to set, put.]
Western; occidental. [R.]
Forth rush the levant and the ponent winds.
Milton.
Pon*gee" (?), n. [Of East Indian origin.] A fabric of undyed silk from
India and China.
Pon*ghee" (?), n. [From the native name.] A Buddhist priest of the
higher orders in Burmah. Malcom.
Pon"go (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any large ape; especially, the chimpanzee and
the orang- outang.
Pon"iard (?), n. [F. poignard (cf. It. pugnale, Sp. puÒal), fr. L.
pugio, -onis; probably akin to pugnus fist, or fr. pugnus fist, as held
in the fist. See Pugnacious.] A kind of dagger, -- usually a slender
one with a triangular or square blade.
She speaks poniards, and every word stabs.
Shak.
Pon"iard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Poniarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Poniarding.]
To pierce with a poniard; to stab. Cowper.
Po`ni*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. ponere to place.] The capability of being
placed or located. [Obs.] Barrow.
||Pons (?), n.; pl. Pontes (#). [L., a bridge.] (Anat.) A bridge; --
||applied to several parts which connect others, but especially to the
||pons Varolii, a prominent band of nervous tissue situated on the
||ventral side of the medulla oblongata and connected at each side with
||the hemispheres of the cerebellum; the mesocephalon. See Brain.
||Pons asinorum. [L., literally, bridge of asses.] See Asses' bridge,
||under Ass.
Pon"tage (?; 48), n. [LL. pontagium, from L. pons, pontis, a bridge:
cf. F. pontage.] (O. Eng. Law) A duty or tax paid for repairing
bridges. Ayliffe.
Pon*tee" (?), n. [F. pontil, pontis.] (Glass Making) An iron rod used
by glass makers for manipulating the hot glass; -- called also, puntil,
puntel, punty, and ponty. See Fascet.
Pon"tic (?), a. [L. Ponticus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; the sea, especially, the
Black Sea.] Of or pertaining to the Pontus, Euxine, or Black Sea.
||Pon"ti*fex (?), n.; pl. Pontifices (#). [L.] A high priest; a
||pontiff.
Pon"tiff (?), n. [F. pontife, L. pontifex, -ficis; pons, pontis, a
bridge (perhaps originally, a way, path) + facere to make. Cf.
Pontoon.] A high priest. Especially: (a) One of the sacred college, in
ancient Rome, which had the supreme jurisdiction over all matters of
religion, at the head of which was the Pontifex Maximus. Dr. W. Smith.
(b) (Jewish Antiq.) The chief priest. (c) (R. C. Ch.) The pope.
Pon*tif"ic (?), a. [Cf. L. pontificius.] 1. Relating to, or consisting
of, pontiffs or priests. "The pontific college with their augurs and
flamens." Milton.