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adj. 1. Having great weight: "The new metal ... was denser, more ponderous than gold" (Oliver Sacks). 2. a. Slow and labored because of great bulk or weight: "The massive turtle ... trudged on resolutely, making good time for such a labored and ponderous gait" (Rick Bass). b. Difficult to maneuver or control because of great bulk or weight: ponderous luggage. c. Slow or difficult to manage, especially because of complexity: ponderous legal procedures. [Middle English, from Old French pondereux, from Latin ponderōsus, from pondus, ponder-, weight; see (s)pen- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] ponder·ous·ly adv. ponder·ous·ness, pon′der·osi·ty (-ŏsĭ-tē) n. |
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