Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: fondrer, from Latin fundus 'bottom'

founder

2 verb
     
Related topics: Water
founder2 [intransitive] formal
1 to fail after a period of time because something has gone wrong:
Their marriage began to founder soon after the honeymoon.
founder on
The talks foundered on disagreements between the two parties.
2TTW if a ship or boat founders, it fills with water and sinks
founder on
The ship foundered on the rocks.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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