faɪnd v. & n. --v.tr. (past
and past part. found) 1 a
discover by
chance or
effort (found a key). b
become aware of. c (absol.) discover game,
esp. a
fox. 2 a
get possession of by chance (found a treasure). b
obtain,
receive (idea found acceptance). c
succeed in obtaining (cannot find
the money; can't find
time to read). d
summon up (found
courage to protest). e sl.
steal. 3 a
seek out and
provide (will find
you a book). b supply,
furnish (each finds
his own equipment). 4
ascertain by
study or
calculation or
inquiry (could
not find the answer). 5 a
perceive or
experience (find no
sense in
it; find
difficulty in breathing). b (often in passive)
recognize or discover to be present (the
word is not found in Shakespeare). c
regard or discover
from experience (finds England
too cold; you'll find it pays; find it
impossible to reply). 6
Law (of a
jury,
judge, etc.)
decide and
declare (found
him guilty; found
that he
had done it; found it murder). 7
reach by a
natural or
normal process (water finds
its own level). 8 a (of a letter) reach (a person). b (of an address) be
adequate to
enable a
letter etc. to reach (a person). 9
archaic reach the
conscience of. --n. 1 a a
discovery of
treasure, minerals, etc. b
Hunting the
finding of a fox. 2 a
thing or
person discovered, esp.
when of
value. øall found (of an employee's wages)
with board and
lodging provided free. find
against Law decide against (a person), judge to be guilty. find
fault see FAULT. find
favour prove acceptable. find one's
feet 1 become
able to
walk. 2
develop one's
independent ability. find
for Law decide in favour of (a person), judge to be
innocent. find it in one's
heart (esp. with
neg.; foll. by to + infin.)
prevail upon oneself, be
willing. find oneself 1 discover that
one is (woke to find
myself in
hospital; found
herself agreeing). 2 discover one's
vocation. 3 provide for one's own
needs. find out 1 discover or
detect (a
wrongdoer etc.). 2 (often foll. by about) get
information (find out
about holidays abroad). 3 discover (find out
where we are). 4 (often foll. by about) discover the
truth, a
fact, etc. (he
never found out). 5
devise. 6
solve. find-spot Archaeol. the
place where an
object is found. find one's
way 1 (often foll. by to)
manage to reach a place. 2 (often foll. by into) be
brought or get. øøfindable adj. [OE findan f. Gmc]
