firma Italian · revision 39322

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=back-formation|attested=1618, Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger|origins=ine-pro *dʰer-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈfir.ma/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''firma''' ''f'' (plural firme)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|it|firmare|t=to sign]], a back-formation: a noun made from the verb with no suffix.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The verb is a learned word, [[bor|la|firmō|t=to make firm, confirm]], from [[m|la|firmus|t=firm, steady]]; the popular outcome of the same Latin verb is [[fermare]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ The Latin adjective goes back to [[itc-pro|*fermo-]], from [[ine-pro|*dʰer-|t=to hold]], and is related to [[sa|धर्म|tr=dhárma|t=support, law]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger (1618), with a signature that gives force to laws and decrees.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|6, 21) The GDLI has an older ''firma'' “confirmation, formal pledge”, from the late 13th or early 14th century.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 19th century the word gained the sense of the act of signing (1869–1876).^(DELI 1999) The army gave ''fare'' or ''mettere la firma'', to sign on for longer service (1931), and the ''firmaiolo'' who did so;^(DELI 1999) ''mettere la firma'' then came to mean to accept something gladly.^(DELI 1999) From the 1950s a ''firma'' is also a well-known writer or journalist, after the magazine ''Le grandi firme'', and later a famous fashion house or designer.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ Italian ''firma'' spread to the languages of Europe: German ''Firma'' “signature” is recorded from 1733 and then meant a business, the sense English ''firm'' has had since 1744 after an earlier sense “signature” (1574).^(DIFIT)^(GDLI|6, 21) French ''firme'' (1877) came from English or German, and DEI notes that the word reached the Middle East.^(DEI|1652)^(GDLI|6, 21)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 13th–early 14th century – ''Firma'' “confirmation, pledge” is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1574 – English ''firm'' is recorded in the sense “signature”.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1618 – Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger uses ''firma'' for a signature.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1733 – German ''Firma'' is recorded.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1744 – English ''firm'' is recorded in the sense “business”.^(DIFIT)

+ * 1870 – Carlo Dossi uses ''per onor di firma''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1950 – ''Firma'' is used for a writer of standing.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|signature]]: one's name written by hand at the end of a letter or document: ''Ha messo la firma in fondo alla lettera.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # The act of signing; the formal approval of a document by someone with authority to sign it: ''La firma dell'accordo è prevista per domani.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A mark that shows who did something: ''Il gol porta la firma del giovane attaccante.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A famous name in a field, such as a noted [[m|en|journalist]] or a fashion house.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(rare)'' A business, a [[m|en|firm]].^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[controfirma]]

+ * [[firmaiolo]]

+ * [[firmatario]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[firmare]]

+ * [[fermare]]

+ * [[fermo]]

+ * [[la|firmus]]

+ * [[en|firm]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Ci metterei la firma!'' means “I'd gladly settle for that!”^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) ''Per onor di firma'' is “just to keep one's word”, and ''firma digitale'' or ''elettronica'' an electronic signature.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}