'establishment-oriented' is a modern English compound formed from the noun 'establishment' and the suffix '-oriented' (from 'orient' + '-ed'), where 'establishment' comes from 'establish' + '-ment' and '-oriented' denotes being directed toward or aligned with something.

'establishment' derives from Middle English and Anglo-French forms from Old French 'establiss-' (from verb 'establir'), ultimately traceable to Latin roots such as 'stabilis'/'stabilire' meaning 'stable' or 'make firm'. 'Orient' comes from Latin 'oriens' (rising, east) and via Old French became 'orienter' meaning 'to direct', and the adjective-forming '-oriented' developed in modern English to mean 'directed toward'. The compound 'establishment-oriented' formed in modern English usage to describe alignment with the 'establishment'.

Initially, elements like 'establish' related to making something firm or stable and 'orient' to directing toward a point (originally the rising sun). Over time, combining them produced the current sense of 'directed toward or aligned with the established order or authorities'.