foundation

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The solid structure built underground that supports a building.

   The workers spent weeks laying the foundations of the new house.

2. 2
   noun

   A basic idea, fact, or principle that something develops from.

   His early reading gave him a strong foundation for his studies.

3. 3
   noun

   An organization set up to provide money for charity or research.

   The Wikimedia Foundation supports many free online projects.

4. 4
   noun

   The act of starting or establishing something.

   The foundation of the university dates back to 1850.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- ~ *dʰubʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-mḗn Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰmḗnder. Proto-Italic *funðos Latin fundus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin fundō Proto-Indo-European *-tisder. Proto-Italic *-tjō Latin -tiō Latin fundātiōder. Old French fondacionbor. Middle English foundacioun English foundation From Middle English foundacioun, fundacioun, from Old French fondacion, from Latin fundātiō (“founding, foundation”).

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