n.
Pronunciation: ' f ī nd
Function: verb
Inflected Form: found \ ' fau ̇ nd \ ; 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 \ ' f ī n-d ə -b ə l \ adjective
– find fault : to criticize unfavorably