found English · revision 1836

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la fundus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /faʊnd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The verb meaning “to establish” is [[inh|enm|founden]], [[bor|fro|fonder|t=to found, establish]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) from [[la|fundāre|t=to lay the bottom or foundation of]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|fundus|t=bottom, foundation]].^(AHD 2000)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Merriam-Webster gives the Anglo-French forms [[xno|funder]], [[m|xno|fonder]].^(MW Collegiate) The verb meaning “to cast metal” is a different word: Middle English [[m|enm|founden|t=to mix]], [[bor|frm|fondre|t=to pour out, melt, mix together]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MWU 2024) from [[la|fundere|t=to melt, pour]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Barnhart 1995) from a nasalized form of [[ine-pro|*gheu-|t=to pour]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Its cognates include [[ang|ġēotan|t=to pour]], [[de|gießen]], [[got|𐌲𐌹𐌿𐍄𐌰𐌽|tr=giutan|t=to pour]] and [[grc|χεῖν|tr=kheîn|t=to pour]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) The adjective ''found'' is the past participle of [[find]].^(SOED 2002)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To build (a town or edifice) for the first time, about 1290;^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) by about 1300 also to set up an institution and to base something immaterial on a firm ground.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old French ''fonder'' had a wider range than the English verb, “to found, establish; set, place; fashion, make”.^(Etymonline) In English the literal sense of laying the foundations of a building came to be used figuratively of institutions, especially ones set up with provision for their lasting maintenance.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Between 1377 and 1622 ''found'' could also mean to endow persons who were to carry out some function.^(HTOED) Johnson (1755) gave the senses “to lay the basis of any building”, “to build, to raise” and “to establish, to erect”.^(Johnson 1755) An intransitive use, to base oneself or one's opinion on something, is chiefly Scottish and dates from the 1830s.^(HTOED)^(SOED 2002) The phrase ''founding fathers'', of the creators of the American republic, is attested from 1916.^(Etymonline) The casting verb first meant “to mix, mingle” (before 1399), and only from 1562 “to melt and cast metal”;^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) its use for glass dates from the late 18th century.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) Of the participle, ''well found'' “equipped” is recorded from 1793 in the OED,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) while the phrase ''and found'' in old advertisements meant that meals were provided, from the phrase ''to find oneself'', “to provide for oneself”, which Bartlett explained in 1848.^(Etymonline) In the 20th century ''found'' was applied to art objects taken unaltered from their surroundings, after French ''objet trouvé'',^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) and since 1966 to poetry made from rearranged prose.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – ''founden'', to build for the first time.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – to establish an institution; to base something immaterial.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1377–1622 – to endow (obsolete).^(HTOED)

+ * c. 1380 – ''found'' as an adjective, discovered.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1399 – ''founden'', to mix or mingle.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1562 – to melt and cast metal.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1782 – to make glass by fusing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1793 – ''well found'', equipped.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1830 – as a noun, board and lodging in addition to wages.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1916 – ''founding fathers''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1966 – ''found'' poetry.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To set up or [[establish]] (an institution, organization or town), often with provision for its continuing existence.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # To base on something; to ground: ''a story founded on fact''.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(COED 2004)

+ # To lay the [[foundation]] of a building; to begin to build.^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # To melt metal and pour it into a [[mould]]; to make an object in this way; to [[cast]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+ # To melt the materials for [[glass]]; to make glass by fusing them.^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Equipped or fitted out: ''a well-found ship''.^(Collins 2023)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # ''(art)'' Of an object, collected in its natural state and presented as part of a work of art: ''found objects''.^(COED 2004)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(Britain)'' With meals and other services included at no extra charge, especially in ''all found''.^(Collins 2023)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Free food and lodging given in addition to wages.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[foundling]]

+ * [[unfound]]

+ * [[newfound]]

+ * [[well-found]]

+ * [[cofound]]

+ * [[refound]]

+ * [[found art]]

+ * [[found object]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[foundation]]

+ * [[founder]]

+ * [[confound]]

+ * [[foundry]]

+ * [[foison]]

+ * [[fusion]]

+ * [[fund]]

+ * [[fundamental]]

+ * [[profound]]

+ * [[fuse]]

+ * [[refund]]

+ * [[find]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary groups ''found'' with ''create'', ''establish'', ''institute'' and ''organize'', all meaning to bring something into being and set it working.^(AHD) ''Found'' is also the past tense and past participle of [[find]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}