Emily Dickinson Lexicon

pomp (-s), n. [Fr. < L. pompa < Gk πομπή, sending, solemn procession, display, pomp < πέμπειν, send.] (webplay: dignified, displaying, grand, music, parade, show, triumph).

Parade; procession; pageant; ceremony; pretentiousness; ostentatiousness; show of magnificence.

pompadour, n. [< Marquise de Pompadour (1721-64), mistress of Louis XV; used as a compliment in referring to contemporary fashions or colors, or later in reference to fashions of her time.]

Contemporary style; modern fashion; stylish cut; fashionable line of clothing.

Pompeii, proper n. [L. Pompēii.]

Lost city; buried Italian town; village that vanished beneath volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.; place that Hercules founded with pomp and celebration; [fig.] deceased loved ones; people who have passed away from mortality (see ED letters).

pompless, adj. [see pomp, n.]

Unrecognized; uncelebrated; without manifestation of honor; [fig.] without a funeral ceremony.

pomposity, n. [Med L. pompōsitās; see pomp, n.]

1. Parade; pageant; show of magnificence; [fig.] mortality; earthly existence.
2. Pride; conceit; arrogance; vanity; egotism; self-importance; self-aggrandizement.

pompous, adj. [Fr. pompeux, full of display < late L. pompōsus, pompous, stately, solemn; see pomp, n.] (webplay: show).

1. Conspicuous; undisguised; visible; obvious; apparent; plainly manifest; clearly evident.
2. Self-important; lordly; bossy; powerful; authoritative.
3. Showy; ostentatious; pretentious; elaborately decorated.
4. High; lofty; [fig.] disapproving; condescending.

pompously, adv. [see pompous.]

Ceremoniously; elaborately; ostentatiously; importantly; with a show of magnificence.

pond, n. [ME ponde, variant of pound, enclosure; origin obscure.] (webplay: small, water).

1. Pool; small, shallow lake; body of water.
2. Watery grave; [fig.] death.

ponder (-ed, -ing, -s), v. [ME < OFr < L. ponderāre, weigh < pondus, weight.] (webplay: decision, heart, heaviness, mind, think, weigh).

1. Think (about); muse (on); contemplate; consider.
2. Imagine; conjecture; postulate.
3. Stop to think; pause to contemplate.
4. Wonder; query; question; desire to know.

ponderous, adj. [Fr. pondéreux < L. ponderōsus; see ponder, v.] (webplay: feet, weights).

1. Bulky; huge; grave; dull; tedious; daunting; intimidating; overwhelming.
2. Slow; dense; deliberate; sluggish; laborious.
3. Heavy; weighty; serious; concerned with important matters; [fig.] preoccupied; lost in thought.