Word of the Day: Foundation

foundation foun-da-tion / foun-dā-shən noun 1. the basic fundamentals or basis on which something is established An educated workforce is the foundation of every community and the future of every economy. Brad Henry, 1963 – 2. the act of establishing, setting up or starting something new or the state of being established or started Not long after his coronation, he announced the foundation of a new capital city to be built around his father’s palace near Avaris. From “Who Was the Pharaoh Who “Knew Not Joseph”? by Nahum M. Sarna, 1923 – 2005 3. an endowment; funds provided to supply a perpetual source of income for an institution Consider what would happen if a top-tier venture-capital firm required the companies in which it invested to place 1% of their equity into a foundation serving the communities in which they do business. From “The Business of Changing the World: Twenty Great Leaders on Strategic Corporate Philanthropy” by Mark Benioff, 1964 – 4. an institution, founded with an endowment, that usually provides funding for charitable, educational, research or other similar purposes To get the best long-term results the foundation should not only provide grants to help competent men do their best work, but should also seek to increase the supply of competent men. 1949 Ford Foundation report 5. the base of a building, that usually extends underground, on which the structure rests The loftier the building the deeper the foundation must be. Thomas à Kempis, 1380 – 1471 6. something that elevates or supports another thing Place on a foundation of spinach, one resting on top of the other; put a paper frill in each chop. From “The Swedish, French American Cook Book” by Maria Matilda Ericsson Hammond, published 1918 7. a cosmetic that is applied as the base layer for make-up After I brush on my moisturizer, I’ll dip the same brush into foundation and mix it with the lotion to make tinted moisturizer. Bobbi Brown, 1957 – 8. an undergarment that provides support to improve a bodies appearance, such as a girdle or corset, also referred to as a foundation garment If you wear the right foundation garments, everything looks better on you. Alex Perry, 1963 – etymology From Middle English fundacioun, from Latin fundātiō(n-), from fundāre (to found)