arch. [var. of ESTABLISHMENT. Cf. STABLISH v. and -MENT.]
1. The action of stablishing or establishing; the condition of being established.
1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 75/2. For the perpetuell stablesshement of the same College.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 133 b. So the stablysshmentes in vertue, & the delectacyons in good workes … ben the fruytes of the holy goost.
1617. Hieron, Penance for Sin, Wks. 1620, II. 268. ‘Stablish mee with Thy free Spirit.’ Here two things:… First, the particularity of the fauour which Dauid craues, stablishment, confirmation in good.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, IV. I. iv. 144. Not to be punished for sin is the stablissement of Sin.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Festiv., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 338. May we … Thy sacred Truth embrace, With strength of Faith, and Stablishment in Grace.
1898. S. Evans, Holy Graal, 103. Prayer to God that He would recover back the walls in such stablishment as they were aforetime.
b. Confirmed possession.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. vi. 9. Vnto her He gaue the stablishment of Egypt.
† 2. Something established, a statute, ordinance.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, III. i. (Skeat), 132. Under whiche lawe … bothe … arn … bounden … as by knotte of loves statutes and stablisshment in kynde.
1473. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 83/1. Any other Acte, Statute, Stablisshement or Ordenaunce, made or to be made in this present Parlement.
3. A means of establishing or strengthening.
1533. More, Confut. Tindale, VII. Wks. 665/1. To thentent that his catholike church may be to euery man that wil learne therof & giue credence therunto as himself commaundeth eueri man to do, a very sure stablishment and a stronge pyller of trouthe.
