foundation

Pronunciation

• IPA: /faʊnˈdeɪ.ʃᵊn/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English foundacioun,^[2][3] borrowed from Old French fondacion,^[2][4] or directly from Late Latin fundātiō (“a founding”),^[2][3] from fundāre (“to lay a bottom or foundation”),^[2][3] the source of the verb found, from fundus (“bottom”).^[2] The Latin word is glossed in Old English by staþol.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The action of founding or building on a firm base: about 1385 in the OED^[5] and the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The founding of an institution with an endowment to support it is from 1389,^[5] the late 14th century in Etymonline.^[2] The funds endowed for charitable purposes are from the early 15th century,^[2] and that which is founded, such as a college or hospital, from the 1510s.^[2][5] The solid base on which a building stands is from the early 15th century in Etymonline^[2] and 1494 in the OED,^[5] and figuratively the basis of anything followed.^[6] The cosmetic sense, a coloured cream applied as a base for make-up, is by 1910, probably short for foundation make-up.^[2] Foundation stone and foundation course are later compounds.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 1385 – the action of founding.^[5]
• 1389 – an endowed institution's founding.^[5]
• early 15th century – an endowment.^[2]
• 1494 – the base of a building.^[5]
• 1510s – an endowed institution.^[2]
• 1910 – a cosmetic base.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The solid base on which a building rests, usually below ground.
2. The basis or principle on which something stands: the foundations of democracy.
3. The act of founding an institution.
4. An organization set up with an endowment to support a charitable or other cause.
5. A cream or powder applied to the face as a base for makeup.

Word family

• foundational
• foundationally
• foundationless
• foundationary
• foundation garment
• foundation stone

Related words

• found
• fund
• fundamental
• founder
• bottom
• profound

References

1. ^ a b Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin