perpend

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pəˈpɛnd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /pɚˈpɛnd/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin perpendere, from per- + pendere (“to weigh”).

Verb

perpend (third-person singular simple present perpends, present participle perpending, simple past and past participle perpended)

1. (archaic) To ponder, consider.
   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], lines 104-15:

     […] Perpend, / I have a daughter - have while she is mine […]

Etymology 2

From Middle French parpain, see etymology of French parpaing.

Alternative forms

• parpane, parpen, parpend, parpent, perpeyn, perpin

Noun

perpend (plural perpends)

1. A brick or stone that has its longest dimension perpendicular to the face of a wall, especially one that extends through the wall's entire thickness.
2. A vertical joint (usually mortar) between bricks or blocks in a horizontal course.

Derived terms

• perpend stone

Anagrams

• prepend