Other forms: establishments
Establishment means setting something up. The establishment of the fund, since its establishment in 1904, the establishment of the rules.
With the, the Establishment means the people who hold power and influence in a country and tend to protect each other — anti-establishment, the establishment closed ranks. That sense is British, dates from the 1950s, and is always slightly hostile. An establishment is also a business or institution: a licensed establishment, an educational establishment. Note establish, and established, meaning long accepted.
1nounestablishmentThe setting up of something.
“The establishment of a new hospital in the town created hundreds of jobs.”
2nounholdThe people who hold power and influence.
“The establishment closed ranks within about a week.”
3nounbusinessA business or institution.
“It is a licensed establishment and shuts at eleven.”
establishment is a founding or a power structure.
Old French establissement comes from establir, from Latin stabilire, to make firm — from stare, to stand. Establish, stable and stability are the same root, so establishing something is making it stand.
Old French
establissement
Middle English
stablishment
English, today
establishment
From Middle English stablishment, from Old French establissement, from und + establir. Middle English establishment, stablishment, stablisshement, from Old French establissement (modern French établissement), from the verb establir. by surface analysis, establish + -ment.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA