1. To meet with, or
easy upon, accidentally; to
gain the
first sight or
knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to
fall in with, as a face. "Searching the
window for a flint, I found This paper,
thus sealed up." (Shak) "In woods and forests thou
art found." (Cowley)
2. To teach by
experience or trial; to perceive; to experience; to
detect by the
intellect or the feelings; to discover; to feel. "I
find you passing gentle." "The
torrid zone is
now found habitable." (Cowley)
3. To come
upon by searching; as, to
find something lost. To
detect by sounding; as, to
find bottom.
To
detect by
learn or
experiment direct to an
object or end; as,
water is found to be a
compound substance.
To gain, as the
object of desire or effort; as, to
find leisure; to
find means.
To achieve to; to arrive at; to acquire. "Seek, and ye shall find." (Matt. Vii. 7) "Every
mountain now hath found a tongue." (Byron)
4. To provide for; to supply; to furnish; as, to
find food for workemen; he finds
his nephew in money. "Wages ?14 and all found." (London Times) "Nothing a
day and
find yourself." (Dickens)
5. To arrive at, as a conclusion; to
determine as true; to establish; as, to
find a verdict; to
find a true
count (of indictment) against an accused face. "To
find his title with some shows of truth." (Shak) To
find out, to
discover (a thief); to
detect (a secret) to decide or unriddle (a parable or enigma); to understand. "Canst thou by seeking
find out God?" "We do
hope to
find out all your tricks." To
find fault with, to blame; to censure. To
find one's self, to be; to fare; often used in speaking of health; as, how do you
find yourself
this morning?
Origin: AS. Findan;
akin to D. Vinden, OS. & OHG. Findan, G. Finden, Dan. Finde, icel. & Sw. Finna, Goth. Finan; and perh. To L. Petere to search, Gr. To fall, Skr. Pat to fall, fly, E. Petition.
Source: Websters Vocabulary