[Middle English foundren, to sink to the ground, from Old French fondrer, from Vulgar Latin *funderāre, from *fundus, *funder-, bottom, from Latin fundus, fund-.]
Usage Note: The verbs founder and flounder are often confused. Founder comes from a Latin word meaning "bottom" (as in foundation) and originally referred to knocking enemies down; it is now also used to mean "to fail utterly, collapse." Flounder means "to move clumsily, thrash about," and hence "to proceed in confusion." If John is foundering in Chemistry 1, he had better drop the course; if he is floundering, he may yet pull through.
found·er 2Audio Help (foun'dər) Pronunciation Key
n.
One who establishes something or formulates the basis for something: the founder of a university; the founders of a new nation.
lam·i·ni·tisAudio Help (lām'ə-nī'tĭs) Pronunciation Key
n.
Inflammation of the sensitive laminae of the hoof, especially in horses. Also called founder1.
inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse [syn: laminitis]
2.
a person who founds or establishes some institution; "George Washington is the father of his country"
3.
a worker who makes metal castings
verb
1.
fail utterly; collapse; "The project foundered" [syn: fall through]
2.
sink below the surface
3.
break down, literally or metaphorically; "The wall collapsed"; "The business collapsed"; "The dam broke"; "The roof collapsed"; "The wall gave in"; "The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice" [syn: collapse]
Found\, 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. I had else been perfect, Whole as the marble, founded as the rock. --Shak. A man that all his time Hath founded his good fortunes on your love. --Shak. It fell not, for it was founded on a rock. --Matt. vii. 25. 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. There they shall found Their government, and their great senate choose. --Milton. Syn: To base; ground; institute; establish; fix. See Predicate.
Found"er\, n. [Cf. OF. fondeor, F. fondateur, L. fundator.] One who founds, establishes, and erects; one who lays a foundation; an author; one from whom anything originates; one who endows.
Found"er\, n. [From Found to cast.] One who founds; one who casts metals in various forms; a caster; as, a founder of cannon, bells, hardware, or types. Fonder's dust. Same as Facing, 4. Founder's sand, a kind of sand suitable for purposes of molding.
Found"er\, 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. 2. To fall; to stumble and go lame, as a horse. For which his horse fear['e] gan to turn, And leep aside, and foundrede as he leep. --Chaucer. 3. To fail; to miscarry. "All his tricks founder." --Shak.
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Audio Help [foun-der] Pronunciation Key 
