Chapter Foulard to Fourth of F by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

2. That upon which anything is founded; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported; the lowest and supporting layer of a superstructure; groundwork; basis.

Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone . . . a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.

Is. xxviii. 16.

The foundation of a free common wealth.

Motley.

3. (Arch.) The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course (see Base course (a), under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry.

4. A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution, and constituting a permanent fund; endowment.

He was entered on the foundation of Westminster.

Macaulay.

5. That which is founded, or established by endowment; an endowed institution or charity.

Against the canon laws of our foundation.

Milton.

Foundation course. See Base course, under Base, n. — Foundation muslin, an open-worked gummed fabric used for stiffening dresses, bonnets, etc. — Foundation school, in England, an endowed school. — To be on a foundation, to be entitled to a support from the proceeds of an endowment, as a scholar or a fellow of a college.

Foundationer
(Foun*da"tion*er) n. One who derives support from the funds or foundation of a college or school. [Eng.]

Foundationless
(Foun*da"tion*less), a. Having no foundation.

Founder
(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.

Founder
(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.

Founder
(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 fearé gan to turn,
And leep aside, and foundrede as he leep.

Chaucer.

3. To fail; to miscarry. "All his tricks founder." Shak.

Founder
(Found"er), v. t. To cause internal inflammation and soreness in the feet or limbs of so as to disable or lame him.

Founder
(Found"er), n. (Far.) (a) A lameness in the foot of a horse, occasioned by inflammation; closh. (b) An inflammatory fever of the body, or acute rheumatism; as, chest founder. See Chest ffounder. James White.