Your question would be these, I suppose?
1.What is the difference between “found” and “establish”?
2.Is it correct that 'found' = informal form of 'establish'
3.How do you differentiate 'found' and 'establish'?
Quora was established in 2009. -> I often imagine that when you say 'establish', it's kind of an 'establishment', something that is firm and stable. Furthermore, it also carries the meaning of **'a setting up or consolidating something'** (in this context, a business or a company) on a permanent basis.
From the etymology I looked up establish, the result came out:
late 14c., from Old French establiss-, present participle stem of
establir "cause to stand still, establish, stipulate, set up, erect,
build" (12c., Modern French établir), from Latin stabilire "make
stable," from stabilis "stable"
'Establish' also carries a meaning: make something known and accepted
For example: His position in the organization is now firmly established.
You cannot say his position is 'founded' in this sentence.
Establish also carries the meaning of make certain of something
For example: Police are still trying to establish the identity
You cannot say the police are still trying to found the identity.
Quora was founded in 2009. -> While on the other hand, when 'found' comes out, I often imagine that you set up something from ground up. The focus is on the 'building from the basis/ground.'
From the etymology I looked up the word 'found':
found (v.1) Look up found at Dictionary.com "lay the basis of,
establish," late 13c., from Old French fonder "found, establish; set,
place; fashion, make" (12c.), from Latin fundare "to lay the bottom or
foundation" of something, from fundus "bottom, foundation" (see fund
(n.)). Related: Founded; founding. Phrase founding fathers with
reference to the creators of the American republic is attested from
1916.
It is focused on the ‘bottom, base’.
From this we can infer that the focus and the objective of the verbs are rather different, while those are synonymous, and in some cases are interchangeable, in some cases, it is not.
Example:
‘the company's fortunes are founded on its minerals business’ -> you can't say established here.
'Who are the founding fathers of America? -> you can't say establishing here.
According to the Webster:
to establish (something) often with provision for future maintenance found an institution
And found can also mean:
: to melt (a material, such as metal) and pour into a mold
