See Also: EC-FOUNDER(finance)
founder(medicine)
founder(1)(dictionary)
founder(2)(dictionary)
founder(3)(dictionary)
founder(4)(dictionary)
founder 1, noun(dictionary)
Founder effect(health)
Effect, founder(health)
founder 2, verb(dictionary)

founder(4) (iou)



founder verb. ME.
[Old French fondrer, esfondrer send to the bottom, submerge, collapse, from Proto-Romance verbs from alt. of Latin fundus bottom: cf. medieval Latin fundora bottom, funderare founder.]
I. verb trans.
Knock to the ground; fell. Long obsolete exc. Scot. ME.
Cause to fall with lameness, fatigue, or (fig.) shock, dismay, etc.; esp. affect (a horse) with the founder. L16.
S. Beckett Like an old hack foundered in the street, struggling no more. E. Bowen Shock foundered Eric, sent him silly all over.
Cause (a ship) to fill with water and sink. M17.
II. verb intrans.
Chiefly of a horse or its rider: fall to the ground, esp. from lameness. Also, stick fast in a bog. LME.
B. England Ansell staggered, foundered dully.
Of a structure: collapse, give way. L15.
C. Lyell The cliffs of Bawdsey..are foundering slowly.
Of a ship: fill with water and sink to the bottom. E17.
W. C. Williams Their ship..had foundered in a storm at sea.
b. fig. Of a plan, hope, relationship, etc.: come to grief, fail. E17.
T. Sharpe Sir Godber's ideals had..foundered on the rocks of financial necessity. Godfrey Smith The development plans nearly foundered..for lack of capital.