founder
pronunciation
How to pronounce founder in British English:
UK [ˈfaʊndə(r)]
How to pronounce founder in American English:
US [ˈfaʊndɚ]
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- Noun:
- inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse
- a person who founds or establishes some institution
- a worker who makes metal castings
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- Verb:
- fail utterly; collapse
- sink below the surface
- break down, literally or metaphorically
- stumble and nearly fall
Word Origin
- founder
- founder: [13] Etymologically, founder means ‘sink to the bottom’. Its history can be traced back to Latin fundus ‘bottom’ (source also of English found ‘establish’, fund, and fundamental), which formed the basis of a Vulgar Latin verb *fundorāre. This passed into Old French fondrer, which meant ‘submerge’, but also, by extension, ‘fall in ruins, collapse’ – both of which groups of senses English took over in founder.=> found, fund, fundamental
- founder (v.)
- early 14c. "to send to the bottom" (transitive); late 14c., "to sink or fall" (intransitive), from Old French fondrer "collapse; submerge, sink, fall to the bottom" (Modern French fondrier), from fond "bottom" (12c.), from Latin fundus "bottom, foundation" (see fund (n.)). Not especially of ships in Middle English, where it typically meant "fall to the ground." Figurative use from 1580s. Related: Foundered; foundering.
- founder (n.1)
- "one who establishes, one who sets up or institutes (something)," mid-14c., from Anglo-French fundur, Old French fondeor "founder, originator" (Modern French fondateur), from Latin fundator, agent noun from fundare "to lay a foundation" (see found (v.1)). Fem. form foundress is from early 15c.; also fundatrix (1540s).
- founder (n.2)
- "one who casts metal," c. 1400, agent noun from found (v.2).
Example
- 1. Others complained that founder mr. zuckerberg didn 't appear .
- 2. Maybe because of that he could not become the founder of a great religion .
- 3. If they did not , the industry would surely founder .
- 4. Schumpeter is , mccraw suggests , the founder of modern business strategy .
- 5. Editor 's note : pete cashmore is founder and ceo of mashable , a popular blog about social media .