SUFFIX -est
You add -est to many short adjectives to form superlatives. For example, the superlative of 'nice' is nicest and the superlative of 'happy' is happiest .
es|tab|lish ◆◆◇ / I stæ bl I ʃ/ (establishes , establishing , established )
1 VERB If someone establishes something such as an organization, a type of activity, or a set of rules, they create it or introduce it in such a way that it is likely to last for a long time. □ [V n] The U.N. has established detailed criteria for who should be allowed to vote. □ [be V -ed] The School was established in 1989 by an Italian professor.
2 VERB If you establish contact with someone, you start to have contact with them. You can also say that two people, groups, or countries establish contact. [FORMAL ] □ [V n + with ] We had already established contact with the museum. □ [V n] The two countries have established diplomatic relations.
3 VERB If you establish that something is true, you discover facts that show that it is definitely true. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] Medical tests established that she was not their own child. □ [V wh] It will be essential to establish how the money is being spent. □ [V n] An autopsy was being done to establish the cause of death. □ [be V -ed that ] It was established that the missile had landed on a test range in Australia. ● es|tab|lished ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ That link is an established medical fact.
4 VERB If you establish yourself , your reputation, or a good quality that you have, you succeed in doing something, and achieve respect or a secure position as a result of this. □ [V pron-refl] This is going to be the show where up-and-coming comedians will establish themselves. □ [V pron-refl + as ] He has established himself as a pivotal figure in U.S. politics. □ [V n] We shall fight to establish our innocence. [Also V n + as ]
es|tab|lished / I stæ bl I ʃt/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you use established to describe something such as an organization, you mean that it is officially recognized or generally approved of because it has existed for a long time. □ Their religious adherence is not to the established church. □ …the established names of Paris fashion.
es|tab|lish|ment ◆◇◇ / I stæ bl I ʃmənt/ (establishments )
1 N‑SING The establishment of an organization or system is the act of creating it or beginning it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] His ideas influenced the establishment of National Portrait Galleries in London and Edinburgh.
2 N‑COUNT An establishment is a shop, business, or organization occupying a particular building or place. [FORMAL ] □ …a scientific research establishment. □ …shops and other commercial establishments.
3 N‑SING You refer to the people who have power and influence in the running of a country, society, or organization as the establishment . □ Shopkeepers would once have been pillars of the Tory establishment. SYNONYMS establishment NOUN 2
organization: Most of these specialized schools are provided by voluntary organizations.
institution: Class size varies from one type of institution to another.
concern: If not a large concern, Queensbury Nursery was at least a successful one.
body: …the Chairman of the police representative body, the Police Federation.
es|tate ◆◆◇ / I ste I t/ (estates )
1 N‑COUNT An estate is a large area of land in the country which is owned by a person, family, or organization. □ …a shooting party on Lord Wyville's estate in Yorkshire.
2 N‑COUNT People sometimes use estate to refer to a housing estate or an industrial estate. [BRIT ] □ He used to live on the estate.
3 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Someone's estate is all the money and property that they leave behind them when they die. [LEGAL ] □ His estate was valued at $150,000.
4 → see also housing estate , industrial estate , real estate
es|ta te agen|cy (estate agencies ) N‑COUNT An estate agency is a company that sells houses and land for people. [BRIT ]
es|ta te agent (estate agents ) N‑COUNT An estate agent is someone who works for a company that sells houses and land for people. [BRIT ] in AM, use Realtor , real estate agent
es|ta te car (estate cars ) N‑COUNT An estate car is a car with a long body, a door at the rear, and space behind the back seats. [BRIT ] in AM, use station wagon
es|teem / I stiː m/ (esteems , esteeming , esteemed )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Esteem is the admiration and respect that you feel towards another person. [FORMAL ] □ He is held in high esteem by colleagues in the construction industry.
2 VERB If you esteem someone or something, you respect or admire them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] I greatly esteem your message in the midst of our hard struggle.
3 → see also self-esteem
es|teemed / I stiː md/ ADJ You use esteemed to describe someone who you greatly admire and respect. [FORMAL ] □ He was esteemed by his neighbours. □ It is indeed an honour to serve my country in such an esteemed position.
es|thete /iː sθiːt, [AM ] e s-/ → see aesthete
es|thet|ic /iːsθe t I k, [AM ] esθ-/ → see aesthetic