FOUND

v. 1 tr. a establish (esp. with an endowment). b originate or initiate (an institution). 2 tr. be the original builder or begin the building of (a town etc.). 3 tr. lay the base of (a building etc.). 4 (foll. by on, upon) a tr. construct or base (a story, theory, rule, etc.) according to a specified principle or ground. b intr. have a basis in. øfounding father a person associated with a founding, esp. an American statesman at the time of the Revolution. [ME f. OF fonder f. L fundare f. fundus bottom]