establishment

n. [ Cf. OF. establissement, F. établissement. ] 1. The act of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being established, founded, and the like; fixed state. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is established; as: (a) A form of government, civil or ecclesiastical; especially, a system of religion maintained by the civil power; as, the Episcopal establishment of England. (b) A permanent civil, military, or commercial, force or organization. (c) The place in which one is permanently fixed for residence or business; residence, including grounds, furniture, equipage, etc.; with which one is fitted out; also, any office or place of business, with its fixtures; that which serves for the carrying on of a business; as, to keep up a large establishment; a manufacturing establishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Exposing the shabby parts of the establishment. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

Establishment of the port (Hydrography), a datum on which the tides are computed at the given port, obtained by observation, viz., the interval between the moon's passage over the meridian and the time of high water at the port, on the days of new and full moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who regards the Church primarily as an establishment formed by the State, and overlooks its intrinsic spiritual character. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]