Middle English Dictionary Entry
ponder n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ponder n. Also pondre, pondire. |
| Etymology | L ponderis, pondere, etc., infl. forms of pondus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. pounder n.
1.
(a) Weight; also, the amount which something weighs; (b) a weight; (c) a kind of balance or scale for weighing; also, one of the weights used with such a scale; (d) a multitude of fighting men.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1580 : God made al thing & set it sure in nombre, pondire, and in mesure.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1585 : Take good hede That to coniunccion ye not procede Tille ye know the pondres ful complete Of al componentes.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)49b/a : Albucasis drew out þat ponder [Ch.(2): wiþ a payse] of lede a veyne meden or ciuilem.
c
- (1339-40) Sacrist R.Ely 293 : In j ponder empt..1 s. 5 d.
- (1439) RParl.5.30a : There was take on branche of disceit awey that hurte many man sore, the whiche was called a Schafte, othere wise called a Pondre, othere wise called an Hauncere, whiche greved many a trewe man.
d
- c1450 Siege Troy(1) (ArmsAr 22)11/113 : We schul ȝow ordayne a soche a ponder That al troye sore schal dere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Treat.7 Lib.Arts (Trin-C R.14.52)1047/317 : Nat withoute grete cause right famows men gaf grete attendaunce and diligence to this science, for the sikernes of geometrical demonstracioun certifieth a man more clierly both in Astronomy, also in perspectif and in science of ponders and weightis, causith men to be gretely magnified.
- a1484 Treat.7 Lib.Arts (Trin-C R.14.52)1048/384 : In science also of ponders is necessarie to knowe porciouns and partis of cerclis with the strynge and the bowe discrived by rotacioun and goyng aboute of the beame with proporcioun in longitude and thiknes of the beame and angulis with triangulis and suche other many, the whiche al be shewed bi Geometrie.
Note: Glossary: "ponders n. pl. 'weights'."
Note: Additional quot., ?sense (c).