es|tab|lish

es|tab|lish «ehs TAB lihsh», transitive verb.

1. to set up on a firm or lasting basis: »

to establish a government or a business. The English established colonies in America.

SYNONYM(S): found, institute. See syn. under fix. (Cf. ↑fix)

2. a) to settle in a position; set up in business: »

A new doctor has established himself on this street.

b) to settle (oneself) in a place or position: »

He established himself near the fire.

3. to cause to be accepted and used for a long time: »

to establish a custom.

SYNONYM(S): enact, ordain.

4. to show beyond dispute; prove: »

to establish a claim. He established his innocence by showing that he was in another city when the theft was committed.

SYNONYM(S): verify, substantiate.

5. to bring about (a more or less settled state of affairs): »

It has been hard work to establish order here (Dickens).

6. to make (a church) a national institution recognized and supported by the government.

7. in card games: a) to obtain such control of (a suit) that a player can count on taking all the remaining tricks of it. b) to make (a card) the highest remaining in its suit by causing higher cards to be played.

╂[< Old French establiss-, stem of establir < Latin stabilīre make stable < stabilīs stable, steady < stāre to stand]

–es|tab´lish|er, noun.