Ponder vs Fathom - What's the difference?
ponder | fathom |
To wonder, to think of deeply.
To consider (something) carefully and thoroughly; to chew over, to mull over.
* Bible, Proverbs iv. 26
(obsolete) To weigh.
(obsolete) Grasp, envelopment, control.
(nautical) A measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms, standardised to six feet, now used mainly for measuring depths in seas or oceans.
(by extension) Mental reach or scope; penetration; the extent of capacity; depth of thought or contrivance.
* Shakespeare
(archaic) To encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.
To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.
(figuratively) To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).
In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between ponder and fathom
is that ponder is (obsolete) to weigh while fathom is (obsolete) grasp, envelopment, control.As verbs the difference between ponder and fathom
is that ponder is to wonder, to think of deeply while fathom is (archaic) to encircle with outstretched arms, especially to take a measurement; to embrace.As a noun fathom is
(obsolete) grasp, envelopment, control.ponder
English
Verb
(en verb)- I have spent days pondering the meaning of life.
- Ponder the path of thy feet.
Synonyms
* chew over * mull over * See alsoExternal links
* *fathom
English
Noun
(en noun)- Another of his fathom they have none / To lead their business (Othello, I.i. 151-2).
Synonyms
*(measure of length corresponding to the outstretched arms) braceVerb
(en verb)- I can't for the life of me fathom what this means.