fermo Italian · revision 37821

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=early 13th century|origins=ine-pro *dʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfer.mo/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fermo''' (feminine ferma, masculine plural fermi, feminine plural ferme, superlative fermissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|firmus|t=firm, stable, strong]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin ⟨i⟩ in place of an expected ⟨e⟩ is held to be a rustic, non-Roman trait; de Vaan prefers to explain it as raising after a labial.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(de Vaan 2008) The word is found in most of Romance, as [[fro|ferm]], [[oc|ferm]], [[rm|ferm]] and [[fur|ferm]], and passed into [[cy|ffyrf]] and [[eu|bermu]]; [[es|firme]] and [[pt|firme]] come from [[m|la|firme|t=firmly]] according to REW, or from a variant [[la-vul|*firmis]] according to Nocentini.^(REW 1935)^(Nocentini 2010)^(DEI|1621)

+

+ The Latin adjective goes back to [[itc-pro|*fermos]] and [[ine-pro|*dʰer-mo-|t=holding]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*dʰer-|t=to hold]], and its closest relative is [[sa|धर्मन्|tr=dhárman|t=support, firm hold, law]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968) Latin also had the derived verb [[m|la|firmō|t=to strengthen, confirm]], which gave [[fermare]].^(DELI 1999) The noun senses “detention” and “catch” are taken from that verb without a suffix, according to DELI and Sabatini–Coletti;^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011) Nocentini, Devoto–Oli and Treccani treat the noun as the adjective used substantively.^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective is recorded from the early 13th century.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026) DELI's first record is Rinaldo d'Aquino, in the sense “lasting, not passing”, and Brunetto Latini (before 1294) uses it for “resolute”.^(DELI 1999) The sense “not moving” is in Giordano da Pisa (1303–1306): “Il centro della terra è il più fermo luogo” (the centre of the earth is the most unmoving place).^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Petrarch (before 1374) uses ''fermo'' for something established and irrevocable, and Savonarola (before 1498) has ''canto fermo'' for plainchant, after Medieval Latin ''cantus firmus'' recorded in Salimbene (1281–1288).^(DELI 1999) ''Fermezza'' is in Bonagiunta (before 1257) and ''ferma'', first “stay”, then a soldier's term of service (Matteo Villani, before 1363) and the point of a gun dog (1612).^(DELI 1999)

+

+ As a noun the word meant “firmness” in Antonio Pucci (before 1388), especially in ''tenere il fermo'' “to hold firm”.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI) The legal sense, a provisional detention by the police of a suspect, is recorded from 1797, and the phrase ''fermo di polizia'' from 1812; the sense “catch, device that holds something in place” appears in 1877.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) Austrian German took ''ferm'' “firm, capable” in 1825.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Early 13th century – ''Fermo'' is first recorded.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses it for “resolute”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1303–1306 – Giordano da Pisa uses it for “not moving”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1388 – Antonio Pucci uses the noun for “firmness”.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1797 – The noun is used for detention by the police.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1877 – The noun is used for a catch or stopping device.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|still]], motionless, not moving: ''Stai fermo mentre ti pettino.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of a vehicle, stopped; of a machine or a clock, not working: ''L'autobus è fermo al semaforo.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # Stable, unchanging; of water, stagnant; of wine, still; of business, slack.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Steady, not trembling: ''uno sguardo fermo'', ''mano ferma''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' [[m|en|firm]], resolute, unshakeable: ''Rimase fermo nella sua decisione.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(as an interjection)'' ''Fermo!'', ''Fermi tutti!'': stop, don't move.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|catch]] or stop, a device that holds something in place: ''il fermo della finestra''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' Temporary [[m|en|detention]] of a suspect by the police: ''fermo di polizia''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(banking)'' A stop on a cheque or an account.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(field hockey)'' The stopping of the ball by a player.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fermare]]

+ * [[fermata]]

+ * [[fermezza]]

+ * [[ferma]]

+ * [[fermamente]]

+ * [[fermacarte]]

+ * [[fermacravatta]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[affermare]]

+ * [[confermare]]

+ * [[infermo]]

+ * [[la|firmus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Fermo restando'' means “it being understood, without prejudice to”, and ''fermo posta'' “poste restante”.^(Treccani 2011)^(DEI|1621) ''Punto fermo'' is a full stop.^(Treccani 2011) The town of Fermo in the Marche continues Latin ''Firmum''.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}