founder

1
[ foun-der ]
/ ˈfaʊn dər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR founder ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who founds or establishes.

Origin of founder

1
Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at found2, -er1

Words nearby founder

foundation, foundation day, foundation garment, foundation stone, foundation subjects, founder, founder effect, founder's type, founderous, founders' shares, founding father

Definition for founder (2 of 3)

founder 2
[ foun-der ]
/ ˈfaʊn dər /

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to cause to fill with water and sink: Rough seas had foundered the ship in mid-ocean.
Veterinary Pathology. to cause (a horse) to break down, go lame, or suffer from laminitis.

noun

Veterinary Pathology. laminitis.

Origin of founder

2
1300–50; Middle English foundren < Middle French fondrer to plunge to the bottom, submerge < Vulgar Latin *fundorāre, derivative of *fundor-, taken as stem of Latin fundus bottom

OTHER WORDS FROM founder

un·foun·dered, adjective un·foun·der·ing, adjective

Definition for founder (3 of 3)

founder 3
[ foun-der ]
/ ˈfaʊn dər /

noun

a person who founds or casts metal, glass, etc.

Origin of founder

3
Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; see origin at found3, -er1

Words related to founder

designer, patron, benefactor, creator, builder, author, planner, architect, organizer, inventor, abort, stumble, originator, beginner, generator, constructor, maker, initiator, framer, sprawl

Example sentences from the Web for founder

British Dictionary definitions for founder (1 of 3)

founder 1
/ (ˈfaʊndə) /

noun

a person who establishes an institution, company, society, etc

Word Origin for founder

C14: see found ²

British Dictionary definitions for founder (2 of 3)

founder 2
/ (ˈfaʊndə) /

verb (intr)

noun

vet science another name for laminitis

Word Origin for founder

C13: from Old French fondrer to submerge, from Latin fundus bottom; see found ²

usage for founder

Founder is sometimes wrongly used where flounder is meant: this unexpected turn of events left him floundering (not foundering)

British Dictionary definitions for founder (3 of 3)

founder 3
/ (ˈfaʊndə) /

noun

  1. a person who makes metal castings
  2. (in combination)an iron founder

Word Origin for founder

C15: see found ³

Medical definitions for founder

founder
[ foun′dər ]

v.

To stumble, especially to stumble and go lame. Used of horses.
To become ill from overeating. Used of livestock.
To be afflicted with laminitis. Used of horses.

n.

laminitis