fount

Fount is a noun with two primary senses. In its oldest sense, it denotes a spring or source of water—a natural or artificial outlet from which water issues, akin to fountain. In this sense, fount is often found in literary or biblical contexts. The term can also refer more broadly to any source from which something flows, such as ideas, inspiration, or knowledge.

Etymology: The word comes from Old French fount, from Latin fons, fontis meaning spring or source. In Middle English, fount was common; the modern spelling fountain is frequently used for a water-feature, while fount survives mainly in metaphorical or archaising uses.

Usage: In contemporary English, fount tends to be literary or formal. Common expressions include “fount of knowledge” and “fount of wisdom,” referring to someone or something regarded as a primary source of information or inspiration. In physical contexts, “fount” is less common than “fountain” or simply “spring,” but may appear in poetry or historical writings.

Relation to related terms: A fountain generally refers to a water-feature, often decorative or man-made, whereas a spring denotes a natural groundwater outlet. “Font” can be a synonym in the sense of source or origin in phrases like “font of learning,” though more often it denotes a receptacle for holy water or a typeface in modern use.

See also: fountain, font, spring, source.