Obs. Forms: 1 fundian, 2–3 fundie(n, 3–5 fund(e, 4–6 found(e, 5 fownd(e; also 3–5 fond(e. [OE. fundian = OS. fundôn:—OTeut. type *fundôjan, f. *fund-:—OAryan *pṇt- (whence Gr. πάτος way), ablaut var. of *pent-: see FIND v. Cf. OHG. funden (:—*fundjan) of the same meaning; also the cognate FAND v.]

1

  1.  intr. To set out, start, hasten; to go, depart, betake oneself; to travel, journey. (In its later use chiefly north.) Cf. FAND v. 8.

2

a. 1000.  Seafarer, 47. Ac a hafað longunge, se þe on lagu fundað.

3

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Saints’ Lives, xxvi. 224. And lædde forð mid him þær he fundode to.

4

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 117. Ðo þe ure louerd ihesu crist fundede lichamliche fro eorðe to heuene.

5

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2958. Ðis folc of londe funden ne mot.

6

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 6034 (Gött.). Þe folk to fond [Cott., fund; Fairf., founde] i sal giue leue.

7

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, X. 256. [Bruce] syne our all þe land can found.

8

c. 1440.  York Myst., ix. 80.

        Nay, Noye, I am nouȝt bowne
            to fonde nowe ouer þere ffellis.

9

c. 1470.  Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, X. 32. Nane off that place had power for to found.

10

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 435.

        With clarions cleir bemand lyke ony bell,
Quhomeof the sound did found attouir the fell.

11

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., III. 182. Spangs vp on a swofte horse, and founde away at speid til Argyle, to the counselleris of that conspiracie.

12

  b.  followed by inf. expressing the purpose.

13

Beowulf (Gr.), 1819.

                    We fundiað
Higelac secan!

14

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 2269.

        Hwider fundast þu, feasceaft ides,
siðas dreoȝan?

15

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5091 (Cott.). To fotte mi fader sal yee fund.

16

  c.  To rush or dash forcibly into; to strike out at (with a weapon).

17

c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., xli.

        He foundes into the freke with a fresche fare.
    Ibid., xlvii.
Fast he foundes atte his face,
  With a squrd kene.

18

c. 1435.  Torrent of Portugal, 2468.

        But lordys of other lond,
Every one to other ffond,
    And sith went theyre way.

19

  2.  To found to (an object): to strive or yearn towards, try to arrive at or reach; also, to take or betake oneself to (flight, war, etc.).

20

a. 1000.  Crist, 1671 (Gr.).

        Nu þu most feran, þider þu fundadest
longe and ȝelome.

21

a. 1000.  Guthlac, 1062 (Gr.).

                  Sawul fundað
of licfate to þam lonȝan ȝefean.

22

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 848.

        And techest hom that hi fundieth honne
Up to the songe that evre i-lest.

23

1352.  Minot, Poems (Hall), i. 12.

        Of Ingland had my hert grete care,
  When Edward founded first to were.

24

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 10276. Þai foundyt to flight.

25

  3.  Const. with inf. (a development from 1 b): To set about, set oneself, try, begin or prepare (to do something); to proceed or go on (to do.)

26

c. 1205.  Lay., 17858.

        Vtner … fundede to uarene
wið Passent to fehten.

27

c. 1275.  A Prayer to our Lady, 7, in O. E. Misc., 192. Dai and nicht ich fundie to wendende heonne.

28

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2831.

        Moyses, friȝti, ðo funden gan
to speken wið ietro ðat riche man.

29

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 53. He foundede [v. rr. fonded, vondede] biseliche by ensample of siker povert to fulfille [orig. implere satagebat] þe counsail of the gospel.

30

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. (Surtees), 135.

        If thou Wyll saue thy self vnshent
    ffownde the fast to fare.

31

c. 1470.  Henry the Minstrel, Wallace, III. 203.

        On horsis some, to strenthis part, can found
To socour thaim, with mony werkand wound.

32

1674–91.  Ray, N. C. Words, 141. Found, idem quod fettle [Fettle, to set or go about any thing].

33

  b.  with clause: To try to find how (one may, etc.)

34

1393.  Gower, Conf., III. 139.

        [He] foundeth howe he might excite
The juges through his eloquence
Fro deth to torne the sentence
And set her hertes to pite.

35

  4.  trans. a. To try, test, tempt (a person).

36

c. 1175–1400.  [see FOUNDING vbl. sb.].

37

  b.  To make experiment of, prove, try (something); also, to follow after, practise.

38

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 392. Alle leccheries lust · vs loþeth to founde. Ibid., 913. & opur wordliche werk · wisly to founde.

39

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 241.

        Nay, certes! ferther wol I neuer founde
Non other help, my sores for to sounde.

40

c. 1420.  [see FAND v. 3].

41

  Hence Founding vbl. sb.: (a) setting forth, faring, etc.; (b) trial, temptation.

42

O. E. Chron., an. 1106. Forþam þe he nolde on his fundunge ofer sæ hired healdan.

43

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 67.

        Ne led us noht in to costnunga,
þet is an cun [printed cum] of fundunga.

44

c. 1400.  An Apology for Lollard Doctrines, 87. Þe createris of God are maad in to hate, and foundingis [Vulg. Sap. xiv. 11 in tentationetn] to þe soul of men.

45

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 4153.

        Þe writhe of þe wale god · I wate, on vs liȝtis,
For oure founding ouire his forbod · so ferre to þe est.

46

c. 1450.  Guy Warw. (C), 4486. He was tryste in all fowndynge.

47