Etymologically
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foundation

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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

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