foundering
UK[ˈfaʊndərɪŋ]US[ˈfaʊndərɪŋ]
v
(of a ship) filling with water and sinking.
v
(of a plan, project, or enterprise) failing or collapsing after a period of initial success.
Etymology
The verb 'founder' entered English in the late 14th century from Anglo-Norman foundrer and Old French fondrer, meaning "to send to the bottom, collapse, sink." These derive from Vulgar Latin \fundorāre, itself from Latin fundus, meaning "bottom, base." The core logic is a descent to the bottom. The original nautical sense, describing a ship sinking to the seabed, directly reflects this. The modern abstract sense, describing the failure of an endeavor, is a metaphorical extension from the early 17th century, picturing an enterprise collapsing and sinking as if it were a ship.
Analysis
The word 'founder' is a simplex verb of Anglo-Norman and Old French origin. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The vessel was foundering in the heavy seas, taking on water rapidly.
Without a clear strategy, the ambitious startup began foundering within its first year.
Peace talks are foundering on the issue of territorial borders.