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ponderous

1. Very heavy; weighty; as, a ponderous shield; a ponderous load; the ponderous elephant. The sepulcher . . . Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws. (Shak)

2. Important; momentous; forcible. Your more ponderous and settled project.

3. Heavy; dull; wanting; lightless or spirit; as, a ponderous style; a ponderous joke.

(Science: chemical) Ponderous spar, heavy spar, or barytes. See barite.

Origin: L. Ponderosus, from pondus, -eris, a weight: cf. F. Pondereux. See Ponder.