Main Entry: ¹find

Pronunciation: \ˈfīnd\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): found \ˈfau̇nd\; find·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English findan; akin to Old High German findan to find, Latin pont-, pons bridge, Greek pontos sea, Sanskrit patha way, course

Date: before 12th century

transitive verb 1 a : to come upon often accidentally : encounter b : to meet with (a particular reception) <hoped to find favor>
2 a : to come upon by searching or effort <must find a suitable person for the job> b : to discover by study or experiment <find an answer> c : to obtain by effort or management <find the time to study> d : attain, reach <the bullet found its mark>
3 a : to discover by the intellect or the feelings : experience <find much pleasure in your company> b : to perceive (oneself) to be in a certain place or condition c : to gain or regain the use or power of <trying to find his tongue> d : to bring (oneself) to a realization of one's powers or of one's proper sphere of activity <must help the student to find himself as an individual — N. M. Pusey>
4 a : provide, supply b : to furnish (room and board) especially as a condition of employment
5 : to determine and make a statement about <find a verdict> <found her guilty>intransitive verb : to determine a case judicially by a verdict <find for the defendant>

— find·able \ˈfīn-də-bəl\ adjective

— find fault : to criticize unfavorably