~ 1
■ noun a person who founds an institution or settlement.
Derivatives
foundress noun
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~ 2
■ noun the owner or operator of a foundry.
Origin
ME: prob. from OFr. fondeur , from fondre (see found 3 ).
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~ 3
■ verb
1》 (of a ship) fill with water and sink.
↘(of a plan or undertaking) fail.
2》 (of a horse) stumble or fall.
3》 chiefly N. Amer. (of a horse, pony, etc.) succumb to laminitis.
■ noun chiefly N. Amer. laminitis in horses, ponies, etc.
Origin
ME: from OFr. fondrer , esfondrer 'submerge, collapse', based on L. fundus 'bottom, base'.
Usage
The words ~ and flounder are often confused. Founder means, in its general and extended use, ‘fail or come to nothing’, while flounder means ‘struggle; be in a state of confusion’.