firmus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈfɪr.mʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈfir.mus]^[1]

Forms

firmus (feminine firma, neuter firmum, comparative firmior, superlative firmissimus, adverb firmiter); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *fermo-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-mo- (“holding”), from the root Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“to hold”).^[2] The /i/ may come from /e/ raised after the labial.^[2] Cognate with Sanskrit धर्मन् (dhárman-, “support, law”), Avestan dar- (“to hold”) and Lithuanian darýti (“to do”).^[2][3] Georges thought it might be related to ferē and frētus.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was firm and strong of things, sound, steady of the hand or footing, well protected of fortifications, and substantial of food or full-bodied of wine.^[3] Caesar uses it of strong branches and Livy of ground firm enough to hold temples.^[6] Of persons it meant steadfast, constant and reliable.^[7][1] Döderlein contrasts it with validus, strong in the active sense.^[8]

In medieval Latin it was strong, solid, healthy, fledged of birds, and steadfast.^[9][10] It survives as Italian fermo, French ferme, Spanish firme and Romanian ferm.^[1] English firm and farm come from it and its derivatives.^[11]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][5]
• 116–27 BC – Varro calls Apulian wool more durable (firmior).^[3][5]
• c. 1300 – English farm is recorded as “fixed rent”, from Medieval Latin firma “fixed payment”.^[11]
• late 14th century – English firm “strong, steady” is recorded.^[11]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Strong, stout, durable.^[3][7]
2. Sound, in good condition; steady (of the hand or footing).^[3]
3. Strongly protected, secure.^[3]
4. Substantial (of food); full-bodied (of wine).^[3]
5. Steadfast, constant, reliable.^[7][1]
6. (Medieval Latin) Healthy; fledged (of birds).^[10]

Word family

• firmitās
• firmitūdō
• firmō
• īnfirmus
• firmāmen
• firmāmentum
• firmātor
• firmē
• firmiter

Related words

• ferē
• fermē
• fortis
• frēnum
• frētus
• English firm
• English farm

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
9. ^ Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
10. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
11. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com