THE FIRST WORD

ponderous

PRONUNCIATION:

(PON-duhr-uhs) 

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Having great weight.
2. Awkward or unwieldy.
3. Dull or laborious.

ETYMOLOGY:

Via French, from Latin ponderare (to ponder, weigh). Ultimately from the Indo-European root (s)pen- (to draw, to spin), which is also the source of pendulum, spider, pound, pansy, pendant, ponder, appendix, depend, spontaneous, perpend, vilipend, filipendulous, and equipoise. Earliest documented use: 1400.

USAGE:

"Don't fall for the old fat trap. That ponderous old set of resolutions you make every year: I will lose weight. I will work out. I will eat less dessert. We both know you'll be tucking into a double chocolate chip cookie before the day is over."
Ring in the New!; The Hindu (Chennai, India); Dec 31, 2013.

"Freedom awaits the rest of the group as soon as the ponderous Russian paperwork is complete."
Mary Dejevsky; Putin's Charm Offensive; The Independent (London, UK); Dec 30, 2013.