firmo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfɪr.moː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfir.mo]^[1]

Forms

firmō (present infinitive firmāre, perfect active firmāvī, supine firmātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin firmus (“firm, strong”) + -ō.^[2][1] Firmus is *fermo-, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-mo- (“holding”).^[3] Compare Sanskrit धर्मन् (dhárman, “support, fixed order”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Terence onwards.^[3] In Terence a father asks why the girl is not sent for and the dowry he promised confirmed.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant to make things strong, to make the body robust, as Cicero's young men hardened by toil, and to fortify a place, as Caesar's strong defences.^[2] It meant to reinforce troops, to establish laws and institutions, and to secure advantages.^[2]

It meant to encourage a person, to confirm a treaty, a promise or an omen, to vouch for a statement, and in Tacitus to assert.^[2] In Late Latin it meant to confirm by signing, which gave Italian firma (“signature”) and, through German, English firm “business” in 1744.^[4] The adjective firm comes from firmus.^[4]

Timeline

• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of confirming a dowry.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of strengthening the body.^[2][5]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of fortifying a place.^[2][5]
• 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it in the sense “to assert”.^[2][5]
• 1744 – English firm (business) is recorded.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To make firm, strengthen, support.^[2][1]
2. To make robust (the body).^[2]
3. To fortify (a place).^[2][1]
4. To reinforce (troops).^[2]
5. To establish (laws, institutions).^[2][1]
6. To make safe, ensure.^[2][1]
7. To encourage, reassure.^[2][1]
8. To confirm (a treaty, a promise).^[2][1]
9. To vouch for, attest.^[2]
10. To assert, affirm.^[2][1]

Word family

• affirmō
• circumfīrmō
• cōnfirmō
• firmāmen
• firmātor
• īnfirmis
• offirmō
• tintinnāculus

Related words

• firmus
• English firm
• English affirm
• English confirm

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de