founder

noun (1)

found·er | \ ˈfau̇n-dər

Definition of founder

(Entry 1 of 4)

: one that founds or establishes the founder of a company the founder of psychoanalysis

founder

verb

foun·der | \ ˈfau̇n-dər

foundered; foundering\ˈfau̇n-d(ə-)riŋ

Definition of founder (Entry 2 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : to become disabled especially : to go lame

2 : to give way : collapse

3 : to become submerged : sink

4 : to come to grief : fail

transitive verb

: to disable (an animal) especially by excessive feeding

founder

noun (2)

foun·der | \ ˈfau̇n-dər

Definition of founder (Entry 3 of 4)

: laminitis

founder

noun (3)

found·er | \ ˈfau̇n-dər

Definition of founder (Entry 4 of 4)

: one that founds metal especially : typefounder

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about founder

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Did You Know?

Verb

Founder comes from Middle English foundren, meaning "to send to the bottom or "collapse." That word came from the Middle French verb fondrer, and ultimately from the Latin noun fundus, meaning "bottom." When something "founders," it usually hits the bottom in one sense or another. A foundering horse - that is, a disabled one - is likely to collapse to the ground. When a ship founders, it sinks to the bottom of the sea. "Founder" has a broader, figurative sense, too - if your marriage or your career is foundering it isn't doing well and is therefore headed downward.

Examples of founder in a Sentence

Verb

Her career foundered, and she moved from job to job for several years. trying to save a foundering career

First Known Use of founder

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1547, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for founder

Noun (1)

Middle English foundour, borrowed from Anglo-French fundur, foundour, going back to Latin fundātor, from fundāre "to found entry 4" + -tor, agent suffix

Verb

Middle English fondrer "to fall to the ground, stumble, sink," borrowed from Anglo-French fundrer "to destroy," probably back-formation from enfondrer, esfondrer, affondrer "to sink, send to the bottom," prefixed forms based on Old French -fondrer, going back to Vulgar Latin *-fundorāre, verbal derivative of Late Latin fundor-, variant stem of Latin fundus "bottom, base" — more at bottom entry 1

Note: The simple verb fundrer (as opposed to prefixed forms) is marginally attested in Anglo-French, its senses partially merged with fondre going back to Latin fundere (see found entry 5), which in addition to its basic meanings "to pour, cast" had already in Classical Latin the extended meanings "to scatter, disperse, rout" and "to lay low, slay."

Noun (2)

derivative of founder entry 2

Noun (3)

Middle English foundour, borrowed from Anglo-French foundur, foundour, from fondre "to melt, cast, found entry 5" + -ur, -our -er entry 2