Dictionary formpondus, ponderis(neuter)

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Coloured illustration of pondus
#597 of 1,000Core 1000

Translation

weight; burden, importance

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Grammar

Genderneuter

Cases

Casesingularplural
Nominativethe subjectponduspondera
Vocativecalling someone: O ...ponduspondera
Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), perponduspondera
Genitiveofponderisponderum
Dativeto, forponderiponderibus
Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sinepondereponderibus

Examples

.

The weight of the stone was great.

.

He fell under the weight.

.

His words carry weight.

.

He was a man of great authority.

.

The standard weights were set up in the forum.

Pondus, ponderis is third declension neuter, from pendo, "weigh out". As with corpus and tempus, the nominative tells you nothing about the stem: you simply have to know that it is ponder-, and the pattern is worth learning once for the whole set.

Beyond physical weight it means importance or authority, so homo magni ponderis is a man whose opinion counts, and the plural pondera can mean the official weights kept for trade. From it come ponder, ponderous and preponderance, and, by a longer road, English pound: the unit is the Roman libra pondo, "a pound by weight", with the noun swallowing the phrase.

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Latin · Free printables

pondus: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "pondus" (weight; burden, importance): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is taught in chapter 6, lesson 12: pondus, tristis, pecunia and 10 more words.