sonder

Meaning

1. to realise random people have a life (the realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own)
2. to probe (test with a probe)
3. to probe (test the depth of something)
4. to probe (test the depth of something)
5. to probe (look carefully around)
6. to probe (ask someone many questions, in order to find something out)
7. to survey and take measurements using a weather balloon
8. to survey (carry out a survey or poll)
9. to dive down

Concepts

probe

sound

plumb

examine

poll

fathom

drill

scan

scrutinize

inspect

canvass

catheterize

delve

canvas

percussion

sounding someone out

tapping

explore

investigate

cast

sound out

bore

economise

enquire

lay away

question

scrimp

analyse

analyze

indagate

put out feelers

search

study

survey

view

Pronounced as (IPA)

/sɔ̃.de/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French sonder, from Old French sonder (“to plumb”), from sonde (“sounding line”), from Old English sund- (“sounding”), as in sundġierd (“sounding-rod”), sundlīne (“sounding-line, lead”), sundrāp (“sounding-rope, lead”), from Old English sund (“ocean, sea”), from Proto-West Germanic *sund, from Proto-Germanic *sundą (“a swim, body of water, sound”), from Proto-Indo-European *swem(bʰ)- (“to be unsteady, swim”). Cognate with Old Norse sund (“swimming; strait, sound”). More at sound.