v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Founded; p. pr. & vb. n. Founding. ] [ F. fonder, L. fundare, fr. fundus bottom. See 1st Bottom, and cf. Founder, v. i., Fund. ] 1. To lay the basis of; to set, or place, as on something solid, for support; to ground; to establish upon a basis, literal or figurative; to fix firmly. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had else been perfect,
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man that all his time
Hath founded his good fortunes on your love. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

It fell not, for it was founded on a rock. Matt. vii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To take the ffirst steps or measures in erecting or building up; to furnish the materials for beginning; to begin to raise; to originate; as, to found a college; to found a family. [ 1913 Webster ]

There they shall found
Their government, and their great senate choose. Milton.

Syn. -- To base; ground; institute; establish; fix. See Predicate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thin, single-cut file for combmakers. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Founded; p. pr. & vb. n. Founding. ] [ F. fondre, L. fundere to found, pour. ] To form by melting a metal, and pouring it into a mold; to cast. “Whereof to found their engines.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

imp. & p. p. of Find. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. fondation, L. fundatio. See Found to establish. ] 1. The act of founding, fixing, establishing, or beginning to erect. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That upon which anything is founded; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported; the lowest and supporting layer of a superstructure; groundwork; basis. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone . . . a precious corner stone, a sure foundation. Is. xxviii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

The foundation of a free common wealth. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course (see Base course (a), under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution, and constituting a permanent fund; endowment. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was entered on the foundation of Westminster. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which is founded, or established by endowment; an endowed institution or charity; as, the Ford Foundation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Against the canon laws of our foundation. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Foundation course. See Base course, under Base, n. --
Foundation muslin, an open-worked gummed fabric used for stiffening dresses, bonnets, etc. --
Foundation school, in England, an endowed school. --
To be on a foundation, to be entitled to a support from the proceeds of an endowment, as a scholar or a fellow of a college. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who derives support from the funds or foundation of a college or school. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having no foundation. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. based; -- often used as combining terms; as, well-founded suspicions.
Syn. -- based. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To cause internal inflammation and soreness in the feet or limbs of (a horse), so as to disable or lame him. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Foundered p. pr. & vb. n. Foundering. ] [ OF. fondrer to fall in, cf. F. s'effondrer, fr. fond bottom, L. fundus. See Found to establish. ] 1. (Naut.) To become filled with water, and sink, as a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To fall; to stumble and go lame, as a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

For which his horse fearé gan to turn,
And leep aside, and foundrede as he leep. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To fail; to miscarry. “All his tricks founder.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]