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 verb1 a: to come upon often accidentally :encounterb: 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, supplyb: 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>