establish

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   set up or lay the groundwork for

   establish a new department

2. 2
   verb

   bring about

   The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth

3. 3
   verb

   To make stable or firm; to confirm.

   Once it [a snowdrop variety] became established, some bulbs were lifted and passed on to be chipped (i.e. cut into small pieces and grown on).

4. 4
   verb

   To form; to found; to institute; to set up in business.

   But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

5. 5
   verb

   To appoint or adopt, as officers, laws, regulations, guidelines, etc.; to enact; to ordain.

   By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.

6. 6
   verb

   To prove and cause to be accepted as true; to demonstrate.

   to establish a fact   to establish a pattern

7. 7
   verb

   use as a basis for

8. 8
   verb

   establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment

Etymology

From Middle English establissen, from Old French establiss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of establir, (Modern French établir), from Latin stabiliō, stabilīre, from stabilis (“firm, steady, stable”).