I.to weigh a thing (syn. examino).
I. Lit.: “granum,” Plin. 18, 7, 12, § 66: “semper amatorum ponderat illa sinus,” Prop. 2, 13 (3, 8), 12: “pugnos,” Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 156: “in unum omnia ponderata confunduntur,” Scrib. Comp. 106.—
II. Trop., to weigh in the mind, to ponder, consider, reflect upon (class.): “imprimis, quo quisque animo fecerit, ponderandum est,” Cic. Off. 1, 15, 49: “momento suo unamquamque rem ponderandam,” id. Font. 6, 21: “verborum delectum aurium judicio,” id. de Or. 3, 37, 150: “omnia voluptatibus et doloribus,” id. Leg. 1, 13, 39: “quid quisque admiserit non ex crimine, sed ex moribus ejus ... est ponderandum,” id. Sull. 25, 69: “non ex libidine aut levitate testium causas honestorum hominum ponderari,” id. ib. 28, 89: “non esse fidem ex fortunā ponderandam,” id. Part. 34, 117: “causas non ratione, sed verbis,” id. Caecil. 21, 61: “consilia eventis,” id. Rab. Post. 1, 1: “dum inventa ponderant et dimetiuntur,” Quint. 8 prooem. § 27.—Hence,
A. pon-dĕrans , antis, P. a., in a neuter sense, weighing, weighty, heavy (post-class.): “affectu ponderantiore,” Sid. Ep. 8, 6 med. dub. (al. ponderatiore).—
B. pondĕrātus , a, um, P. a., weighed, pondered, well considered: “ponderatiora beneficia,” Nep. Fragm. 2 (v. also under ponderans).—Hence, adv.: pondĕrātē , with due consideration (late Lat.), Hier. in Psa. 36; pondĕrātim , Cassiod. Var. 2, 40.