moulder
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moulder¹
- /ˈməʊldə/ UK
- /ˈmoʊldəɹ/ US
Rhymes with -əʊldə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From mould (“loose friable soil; rotting earth regarded as the substance of the human body”) + -er (suffix forming frequentative verbs), probably influenced by mould (“furry growth of fungi”). Mould is derived from Middle English mold, molde (“loose friable soil, dirt, earth; earth as the substance out of which God made man, and to which the human body decays into after death”), from Old English molde (“earth, soil”), from Proto-Germanic *muldō (“dirt, soil; furry growth of fungi, mould”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“to crush, grind”).
verb moulders · mouldering · mouldered · molder
- Often followed by away or down: to cause (something) to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces. In a certaine kingdome of theſe late-diſcovered Indies, vpon the day of a ſolemne proceſſion, in vvhich the Idoles they adore, are publikely caried vpo and dovvne, […] there are numbered of others ſeene, vvho proſtrating themſelves alongſt vpon the ground, endure very paciently to be mouldred and cr
- To cause (someone or something) to die away or disappear. How many men have we seen moulder and crumble away great estates, and yet pay no debts?
- Often followed by away: to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces. In buyldinge of a fortreſſe or other honorable mantion⸝ it aught to be well conſidered that the cement⸝ wherewith the ſtones be layde⸝ be firme and well bindynge. For if it be brokle ⁊ will mouldre a way with euery ſhowre of raine⸝ the buyldynge may nat contynewe⸝ […]
- To die away, to disappear. Let thoſe, vvho in theſe latter dayes haue ſo earneſtly laboured, to frame and eſtabliſh vnto vs, an exerciſe of religion and ſeruice of God, ſo contemplatiue and immaterial, vvonder nothing at all, if ſome be found, vvho thinke, it vvould haue eſcaped and mouldred avvay betvveene their fingers, if
- Often followed by away: of a group of people (especially an army): to diminish in number; to dwindle. The Corniſh Army vvas greater in Reputation, than Numbers; […] if they vvere compelled to march Eaſtvvards, to vvhich they vvere not inclined, it vvas to be doubted they vvould moulder avvay ſo faſt, that there vvould be little addition of ſtrength by it.
moulder²
- /ˈməʊldə/ UK
- /ˈmoʊldəɹ/ US
Rhymes with -əʊldə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Partly from the following:
* From Middle English molder, moldere (“maker of bread, baker”), from molden (“to knead or shape (bread); to make bread, bake; to mix (something) by kneading; to shape, mould; to pulverize (?)”) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns, especially names of people engaged in professions or trades). Molden is derived from mold, molde (“model or pattern according to which a thing is made, mould”) + -en (suffix forming the infinitives of verbs); and mold, molde are borrowed from Old French molde, a variant of modle, molle (modern French moule), from Latin modulus (“small interval or measure; etc.”), diminutive of modus (“measure; manner, method”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”).
* From mould (“to shape in or on a mould; to form into a particular shape”, verb) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns).
noun moulders
- A person who moulds dough into loaves for baking into bread.
- A person who moulds or shapes material into objects, especially clay into bricks, pottery, etc. It was, however, most interesting work, and the moulders themselves were a decent crowd, never tired of making jokes about themselves such as the hoary one that moulders did not live long, which however ran counter to the other one that no germs could live in a foundry—the atmosphere was too foul.
- An instrument or machine used to mould or shape material into objects.
- A person or thing that influences or shapes; an influencer, a shaper.
- A person who makes moulds for casting metal; a mouldmaker.
moulder³
- /ˈməʊldə/ UK
- /ˈmoʊldəɹ/ US
Rhymes with -əʊldə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Probably a variant of mould (“loose, friable soil”), influenced by moulder (“to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces, etc.”) (etymology 1).
noun moulders
- Alternative spelling of mulder (“one or more crumbled pieces of food, especially oatcake; a crumb or crumbs”).
-
Synonym of mould (“loose, friable soil”); also, dust.
[B]y the ſenſe of our ayrie bodies we haue a more refined faculty of forſeeing, than men poſſibly can haue, that are chained to ſuch heauie earthlie moulder; […]
Similar: mould
moulder⁴
- /ˈməʊldə/ UK
- /ˈmoʊldəɹ/ US
Rhymes with -əʊldə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Probably a variant of mould (“furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi”), influenced by moulder (“to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces, etc.”) (etymology 1).
noun
-
Synonym of mould (“a natural substance in the form of a furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi that appears when organic material lies for a long time exposed to (usually warm and moist) air”)
[G]reat danger is to be apprehended to the health of the crews, and damage to the provisions and stores on board, from the damp state in which such ships must be in, for a long time after being taken out of the water. Houses, built with stone or mortar, saturated with salt-water, will continue damp
Similar: mould
Moulder⁵
proper noun
- A surname.
Translations
Talk about this word "moulder." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/moulder. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. moulder. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/moulder "moulder." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/moulder.Cite this
@misc{moulder_2026,
title = {moulder},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/moulder},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
