founder
founder Lexical Profile
founder Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who establishes an institution, company, society, or settlement.
"The university celebrates its founder with an annual lecture series every autumn."
The owner or operator of a foundry who casts molten metal into molds.
"The skilled bell founder poured the molten bronze into the prepared clay mold."
An inflammatory condition affecting the hooves of horses and cattle, causing severe lameness; laminitis.
"The veterinarian carefully examined the pony's hooves to check for early signs of founder."
• verb
To fail or break down as a result of a particular problem or obstacle (of a plan, project, or undertaking).
"The peace negotiations began to founder over disagreements regarding border security."
To fill with water and sink (of a ship or boat).
"The wooden schooner struck a submerged reef and began to founder in the rough seas."
To stumble, go lame, or fall to the ground from exhaustion or hoof inflammation (especially of a horse or its rider).
"After hours of riding across the muddy marsh, the exhausted horse began to founder."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a verb, do not confuse 'founder' (to sink completely or fail utterly) with 'flounder' (to struggle clumsily or be in a state of confusion).
• Rhymes for founder
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The noun meaning 'creator' derives from Anglo-French fondeour and Latin fundator, from fundare ('to lay a bottom or foundation'). The verb meaning 'to sink or collapse' comes from Old French fondrer ('to submerge or fall to the bottom'), both ultimately tracing back to Latin fundus ('bottom').