're-establishment' originates from the prefix 're-' (from Latin 're-') meaning 'again', combined with 'establishment', which comes via Old French 'establir' (from Latin 'stabilire' / 'stabilis') meaning 'to make firm' or 'firm'.

'establish' entered English from Old French 'establir' and Middle English forms such as 'establichen'; the prefix 're-' (Latin) was later attached in Modern English to form 're-establish', and the noun 're-establishment' developed to denote the act or result of that action.

Initially, roots related to 'establish' emphasized 'making firm' or 'setting up'; over time the combined form 're-establishment' came to specifically denote 'setting up again' or 'restoring' rather than the original general sense of founding.