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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Found, Fownd, v.² Also: fonde, founde. [ME. found(e, fownde, fonde, fund(e (a 1300), F. fonder, L. fundāre. Cf. Fund v.¹]

1. tr. To lay the base of, to begin the erection of (a church, tower, town, etc.).(a) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 454.
Thai, [that] thi firste faderis war, … Gave thé [sc. Rome] name and fowndit to be Ib. v. 30.
He … fowndyt kirkis mony ane c1420 Wynt. v. 696.
A kirk gert he, Honorably … fowndyt be Ib. 974.
The tempill … Agrippa Marcus than gert fownd(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1862.
Sevyn hundyr yhere and ane Fra it [sc. Carthage] wes foundyt 1456 Hay II. 106/14.
How kingis and princis suld … founde citeis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 261/11.
His fader foundit & ordanit and biggit thre placis of black chennonis 1513 Doug. iv. v. 156.
Eneas foundand towris he gan espy c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1699.
Thare gret fortres than did thay founde a1578 Pitsc. I. 112/34.
In the same ȝeir the colledge of Glasgow was foundit and erectittransf. 1456 Hay I. 12/27.
Rycht as the see is foundit apone the ferme erde(c) 1497 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 60.
That ale the inhabitants … sall make thair … bastalye as it is fondit in breid and lintht

2. fig. To base or establish on, upon, or in something. a1400 Leg. S. xlii. 73.
Scho had fondit hir thocht One a grond that fallis nocht 1456 Hay I. 4/14.
On the quhilkis four partis the divisioun of oure buke salbe foundit Ib. 32/35.
Tharefore was the haly kirk foundit in hye devocioun and faith 1479 Acta Conc. 28/2.
Lettres & command fovndit & gevin apon our haly fader the papis breviatis 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 153 b.
Tharfor richt necessare … is to prove and found it in haly writ c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 314.
Sen thow … findis sentence thus foundit of invy 1562-3 Winȝet I. 135/18.
Gif ȝour doctrine … be suirlie foundit and bigit on Godis word a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxi. 6.
Found thé on treuth gif thow wald weill betyde

b. absol. To base one's conduct. a1568 Scott 25.
Found on the first four vertewus cardinall

3. To establish, set up, bring into existence. 1456 Hay II. 106/11.
How princis suld found scolis and studyes of sciencis in thair countreis 1475 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 30.
At the altar of Sanct Johne … foundit in the College Kirk of Sanct Geile of Edinburgh c1515 Asl. MS. I. 253/25.
The noble vniuersite of Paris foundit be twa scottis men a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxiv. 9.
Rycht sair thai rew To found ane pleye that euer thai pretendit 1600 Cath. Tr. 220/25.
Al thair pulpits foundit than libertie of conscience … and reformation of religion

b. To vest (one) in respect of something. c1420 Wynt. vi. 15.
The Scottis fowndyt off thare rycht … Recoweryd swa thaire herytage 1457 Acts II. 50.
Gif ony man be foundyt of aulde … of fyrmes of vther mesuris, … thair foundacione sall stande in effect