- foundation
- c.1385, "action of founding," from L. fundationem (nom. fundatio) "a founding," from fundatus, pp. of fundare (see found (1)). The L. word is glossed in O.E. by stažol. Meaning "that which is founded" (a college, hospital, etc.) is from 1513; meaning "funds endowed" is c.1430. Sense of "solid base of a structure" is from 1494.