founder

¹

[foun-der]

noun

1. a person who founds or establishes something, as a company or institution.

founder

²

[foun-der]

verb (used without object)

1. (of a ship, boat, etc.) to fill with water and sink.

2. to fall or sink down, as buildings, ground, etc..

   Built on a former lake bed, the building has foundered nearly ten feet.

3. to become wrecked; fail utterly.

   The project foundered because public support was lacking.

   Synonyms: flop, perish, sink, topple, succumb, collapse

4. to stumble, break down, or go lame, as a horse.

   His mount foundered on the rocky path.

5. to become ill from overeating.

6. Veterinary Pathology.,  (of a horse) to suffer from laminitis.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to fill with water and sink.

   Rough seas had foundered the ship in mid-ocean.

2. Veterinary Pathology.,  to cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis.

noun

1. Veterinary Pathology.,  laminitis.

founder

³

[foun-der]

noun

1. a person who founds or casts metal, glass, etc.

founder

¹

/ ˈfaʊndə /

verb

1. (of a ship) to sink

2. to break down or fail

   the project foundered

3. to sink into or become stuck in soft ground

4. to fall in or give way; collapse

5. (of a horse) to stumble or go lame

6. archaic,  (of animals, esp livestock) to become ill from overeating

noun

1. vet science another name for laminitis

founder

²

/ ˈfaʊndə /

noun

1. 1. a person who makes metal castings

   2. ( in combination )

      an iron founder

founder

³

/ ˈfaʊndə /

noun

1. a person who establishes an institution, company, society, etc

Usage

Founder is sometimes wrongly used where flounder is meant: this unexpected turn of events left him floundering (not foundering )

Other Word Forms

• unfoundered adjective
• unfoundering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of founder¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English found(o)ur, foundere, fundre “original builder of a city, church, castle, or city; founder of a country,” from Anglo-French fundur, from Old French fondeor, from Latin fundātōr-, stem of fundātor; found ¹; -er ¹ ( def. )

Origin of founder²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English foundren, funder, fonder, from Old French fondrer “to plunge to the bottom, submerge,” from Vulgar Latin fundorāre (unattested), derivative of fundor-, an s -stem noun interpreted as stem of Latin fundus, actually an o -stem noun (stem fund- ) “bottom”

Origin of founder³

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English foundour, founder, from Old French fondeur, from fondre “to melt, cast”; found ³, -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of founder¹

C13: from Old French fondrer to submerge, from Latin fundus bottom; see _found ²

Origin of founder²

C15: see _found ³

Origin of founder³

C14: see _found ²

Example Sentences

His home address was posted online following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Read more on Salon

Similarly, Paul Whitten, founder of tour operator Nashville Adventures, said the key is to expect the worst and then make the necessary preparations, including building in extra time for travel.

Read more on MarketWatch

Nathan’s close friend Seymour Stein, founder of Sire Records, has his own memories.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

When Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes was on trial for misrepresenting the startup’s finances and business prospects, several people tried to put the practice of hyping supposed tech breakthroughs in context.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“Navigating high-school admissions can feel as overwhelming as college admissions,” said Whitney Shashou, founder and CEO of Admit NY, which creates bespoke plans for clients and offers tutoring for high-school entrance exams.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• architect 
• author 
• benefactor 
• builder 
• creator 
• designer 
• inventor 
• organizer 
• patron 
• planner