Definition of found

The word "found" has a rich history dating back to Old English. The verb "found" originally meant "to come upon" or "to happen upon" something. This sense of the word derived from its past participle form of the Proto-Germanic word "*fundiz," which was also the source of the Modern English noun "find." By the 9th century, the verb "found" had evolved to include the sense of "to establish" or "to set up" something, such as a building or a town. This sense of the word is often credited to the influence of the Latin verb "fundare," which means "to build" or "to establish." Today, the word "found" has multiple meanings, including its original sense of "to come upon" something, as well as its senses of "to establish" or "to create." Despite its evolution, the word "found" remains a fundamental part of the English language, used in various contexts to convey discovery, creation, and establishment.