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establish

 - 4 dictionary results

es⋅tab⋅lish

  [i-stab-lish]
Use establish in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to found, institute, build, or bring into being on a firm or stable basis: to establish a university; to establish a medical practice.
2. to install or settle in a position, place, business, etc.: to establish one's child in business.
3. to show to be valid or true; prove: to establish the facts of the matter.
4. to cause to be accepted or recognized: to establish a custom; She established herself as a leading surgeon.
5. to bring about permanently: to establish order.
6. to enact, appoint, or ordain for permanence, as a law; fix unalterably.
7. to make (a church) a national or state institution.
8. Cards. to obtain control of (a suit) so that one can win all the subsequent tricks in it.
Origin:
1325–75; ME establissen < MF establiss-, extended s. of establir < L stabilīre, akin to stabilis stable 2

Related forms:
es⋅tab⋅lish⋅a⋅ble, adjective
es⋅tab⋅lish⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. form, organize. See fix. 3. verify, substantiate. 6. decree.

Antonyms:
1. abolish. 3. disprove.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To establish
es·tab·lish   (ĭ-stāb'lĭsh)   
tr.v.   es·tab·lished, es·tab·lish·ing, es·tab·lish·es

    1. To set up; found. See Synonyms at found1.

    2. To bring about; generate: establish goodwill in the neighborhood.

    3. To place or settle in a secure position or condition; install: They established me in my own business.

    4. To make firm or secure.

    1. To place or settle in a secure position or condition; install: They established me in my own business.

    2. To make firm or secure.

  3. To cause to be recognized and accepted: a discovery that established his reputation.

  4. To introduce and put (a law, for example) into force.

  5. To prove the validity or truth of: The defense attorneys established the innocence of the accused.

  6. To make a state institution of (a church).


[Middle English establishen, from Old French establir, establiss-, from Latin stabilīre, from stabilis, firm; see stā- in Indo-European roots.]
es·tab'lish·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

establish 
c.1374, from O.Fr. establiss-, stem of establir, from L. stabilire "make stable," from stabilis "stable" (see stable (2)). Establishment used 1731 with sense of "established Church;" meaning of "ruling people and institutions" is from 1923.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: es·tab·lish
Function: transitive verb
1 : to institute (as a law) permanently by enactment or agreement establish this Constitution —U.S. Constitution preamble>
2 : to make firm or stable
3 : to bring into existence : FOUND establish post offices and post roads —U.S. Constitution article I>; specifically : to found (a national bank) pursuant to a charter
4 : to make (a church) a national or state institution —see also ESTABLISHMENT, ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE
5 : to put beyond doubt : PROVE
6 : to place in a position of being accepted or followed established by case law>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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