find English · revision 1853

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *findan}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /faɪnd/^(Roach et al. 2011)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|finden]], [[inh|ang|findan|t=to come upon, meet with; discover]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[gem-pro|*findan|t=to come upon, discover]].^(Etymonline) Its cognates include [[nl|vinden]], [[de|finden]], [[non|finna]] and [[got|𐍆𐌹𐌽𐌸𐌰𐌽|tr=finþan]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Klein 1966) According to Watkins the Germanic word is from [[ine-pro|*pent-|t=to tread, go]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source also of [[la|pōns|t=bridge]], [[grc|πόντος|tr=póntos|t=open sea]] and [[sa|पन्थाः|tr=pánthāḥ|t=path]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) the sense passing from “go” to “come upon”, as in [[m|la|invenīre|t=to find, literally to come upon]];^(Klein 1966)^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that Boutkan has serious doubts about this.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To come upon, light on (Old English, about 725, in ''Beowulf'', and ''finden'' in 1013).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of supplying or providing, as in ''well found'', is very old, and Weekley suggests it may imitate the Anglo-French use of ''trouver''.^(Weekley 1921) In law, to determine an issue and pronounce on it, as in ''found guilty'', is recorded from 1429.^(HTOED)^(Black's Law 2004) ''To find out'', to discover by scrutiny, is from the 1550s;^(Etymonline) Middle English had a verb ''outfinden''.^(Etymonline) Reflexive ''find oneself'', to discover one's vocation, dates from the 16th century.^(HTOED) A euphemistic slang use, “to steal”, is recorded from the 1830s.^(GDoS)^(OED 1989) The noun, a discovery, first appears in Southey's letters in 1825;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) by 1847 it meant something found, and by 1890 a person brought to public notice, originally in America.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) The verbal noun ''finding'' first meant an abandoned child (about 1300) and later a discovery.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – Old English ''findan'', in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1429 – in law, to determine and declare.^(HTOED)

+ * 1550s – ''find out''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1615 – to find one's feet.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1825 – noun, a discovery.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1833 – slang, to steal.^(GDoS)

+ * 1890 – a person discovered to be talented.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To come upon, often by chance; to [[encounter]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To discover or obtain by searching or effort: ''find a job'' or ''find the time''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To discover by study or calculation; to [[ascertain]]: ''find the answer''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To perceive or experience something to be so: ''found the wine sour''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To regain the use of: ''found his tongue''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To reach or arrive at: ''the bullet found its mark''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(law)'' To decide and declare a verdict: ''found him guilty''.^(AHD)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # To provide or supply.^(AHD)^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of finding.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Something found, especially a valuable discovery, or a person whose ability proves unexpectedly good.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[findable]]

+ * [[finder]]

+ * [[refind]]

+ * [[unfindable]]

+ * [[viewfinder]]

+ * [[find out]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[path]]

+ * [[pontoon]]

+ * [[foundling]]

+ * [[finding]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}