perpend
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of perpend1
1225–75; variant of parpen, parpend, Middle English perpein, parpein ( late Middle English perpend- in compound) a stone dressed on more than one side < Old French perpein, parpain, perhaps representing Medieval Latin parpanus < ?
Origin of perpend2
1520–30; < Latin perpendere to weigh carefully, ponder, equivalent to per- per- + pendere to weigh
Explanation
If, in a discussion, you want the other person to consider an observation or suggestion, or think about it thoroughly, you might tell them to perpend it. You’ll sound like a great philosopher! But they may not understand you. Perpend is a high-level word found mostly in scholarly writing from earlier times. It entered English in the 1500s from the Latin verb perpendere, meaning "weigh carefully," from per-, "thoroughly," and pendere, "weigh." But perpend has another, unrelated meaning as a noun used in the bricklaying trade, where it refers to the vertical layer of mortar joining the ends of two bricks or blocks. Note that the emphasis falls on the second syllable for the verb (per-PEND), but on the first syllable for the noun (PER-pind).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wherefore, most selected friend, perpend at thy leisure, and so God speed thee!
From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 1, 1833-1856 by Georgina Hogarth
I pray, perpend, my dearest dear; While blue-eyed maids the praise were drinking, How insubstantial was their cheer— It was of yours that I was thinking!
From Chimneysmoke by Christopher Morley
"We shall perpend the point of receiving her," replied the King, gravely.
From The Lancashire Witches A Romance of Pendle Forest by William Harrison Ainsworth
Would it not, as Henley used to say, give him much to perpend?
From An Ocean Tramp by William McFee
He wooes both high and low, both rich and poor, Both young and old, one with another, Ford; He loves the gallimaufry: Ford, perpend.
From The Merry Wives of Windsor The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by John Glover
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
