firm
English
editPronunciation
edit- (General American) IPA(key): /fɜɹm/, [fɝm]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /fɜːm/
Audio (General Australian): (file) - Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)m
Etymology 1
editFrom Italian firma (“signature”), from firmare (“to sign”), from Latin firmāre (“to make firm, to confirm (by signature)”), from firmus (“firm, stable”). The contemporary sense developed in the 18th century simultaneously with German Firma (“business, name of business”). There are conflicting statements in the literature as to which of the two languages influenced which. Doublet of dharma and dhamma. Other cognates include Russian держать (deržatʹ, “to hold”).
Noun
editfirm (plural firms)
- (UK, business) A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
- (business, economics) A business enterprise, however organized.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:enterprise
- 2013 June 1, “End of the peer show”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 71:
- Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms. […] Banks and credit-card firms are kept out of the picture. Talk to enough people in the field and someone is bound to mention the “democratisation of finance”.
- (slang) A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.
Derived terms
editTranslations
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Etymology 2
editFrom Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus (“strong, steady”). Doublet of dharma.
Adjective
editfirm (comparative firmer, superlative firmest)
- Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)
- It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
- Fixed (in opinion).
- a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent
- firm favourites
- 2012 May 9, John Percy, “Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report”, in the Telegraph[1]:
- With such constant off-field turmoil Hughton’s work has been remarkable and this may have been his last game in charge. West Bromwich Albion, searching for a replacement for Roy Hodgson, are firm admirers.
- Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.
- He wanted to stay overnight, but I was firm with him and said he had to leave today.
- Durable, rigid (material state).
- firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)
- Mentally resistant to hurt or stress.
- 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto XVIII, page 30:
- […] The life that almost dies in me:
That dies not, but endures with pain,
And slowly forms the firmer mind,
Treasuring the look it cannot find,
The words that are not heard again.
- Not frivolous or fallacious; trustworthy; solid; dependable.
- 1988 April 23, Elizabeth Pincus, “Moving To Meet The Needs Of Women In The Age Of AIDS”, in Gay Community News, page 7:
- Although facilitators of the workshop for lesbians and bisexual women attempted to address the concerns of lesbians, little firm information emerged.
- 1999, Lucinda Dirven, The Palmyrenes of Dura-Europos:
- None of the Aramaic inscriptions from the Hellenistic and Roman period that are cited in support of this hypothesis that divine messengers are identified with their sender provide any firm proof to this respect.
Derived terms
editTranslations
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Adverb
editfirm (comparative more firm, superlative most firm)
Translations
editEtymology 3
editFrom Middle English fermen (“to make firm”), partly from (either through Old French fermer or directly) Latin firmō, from firmus (“firm”, adjective), and partly a new formation on the adjective.[1]
Verb
editfirm (third-person singular simple present firms, present participle firming, simple past and past participle firmed)
- (transitive) To make firm or strong; fix securely.
- (transitive) To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.
- (intransitive) To become firm; stabilise.
- (intransitive) To improve after decline.
- (intransitive, Australia) To shorten (of betting odds).
- (transitive, colloquial) To grit one's teeth and bear; to push through something unpleasant.
- I know you aren't feeling well, but just firm it.
- (transitive, UK, slang) To select (a higher education institution) as one's preferred choice, so as to enrol automatically if one's grades match the conditional offer.
Derived terms
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References
edit- ^ James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Firm (fə̄ɹm), v.”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume IV (F–G), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 248, column 3.
Further reading
editAnagrams
editChinese
editEtymology 1
editPronunciation
editAdjective
editfirm (Hong Kong Cantonese)
- (of muscles) firm; strong; solid
- 2006 July 6, “劉綽琪豐胸要襯身形”, in 東方日報[2]:
- 她說:「而家33C,size OK,但想再firm啲,不過亞洲女性唔可以好似鬼妹咁大,最緊要襯身形。 [Hong Kong Cantonese, trad.]
- taa1 syut3: “ji4 gaa1 33C, size OK, daan6 soeng2 zoi3 foem1 di1, bat1 gwo3 aa3 zau1 neoi5 sing3 m4 ho2 ji5 hou2 ci5 gwai2 mui6-1 gam3 daai6, zeoi3 gan2 jiu3 can3 san1 jing4. [Jyutping]
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
她说:「而家33C,size OK,但想再firm啲,不过亚洲女性唔可以好似鬼妹咁大,最紧要衬身形。 [Hong Kong Cantonese, simp.]
- 2007 July 21, “王卉霖黃彥欣最投港男眼緣”, in 文匯報[3], archived from the original on 2023-11-05:
- 問到何以仍未修身,她表示:「我的三圍沒有變,但身形firm咗少少,體重無變唔緊要,最重要觀感OK。 [Hong Kong Cantonese, trad.]
- man6 dou3 ho4 ji5 jing4 mei6 sau1 san1, taa1 biu2 si6: “ngo5 dik1 saam1 wai4 mut6 jau5 bin3, daan6 san1 jing4 foem1 zo2 siu2 siu2, tai2 cung5 mou5 bin3 m4 gan2 jiu3, zeoi3 zung6 jiu3 gun1 gam2 ou1 kei1. [Jyutping]
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
问到何以仍未修身,她表示:「我的三围没有变,但身形firm咗少少,体重无变唔紧要,最重要观感OK。 [Hong Kong Cantonese, simp.]
- firm; insistent
- (neologism) awesome; fantastic; amazing; terrific
- 2023 October 23, 理攻 [PolyTactic][4], 紅磚社學生報編委會 [RBS PressCom], page 25:
- 你想要最firm最warm嘅hall life?咁就要嚟民殷堂呢個大家庭喇! [Hong Kong Cantonese, trad.]
- nei5 soeng2 jiu3 zeoi3 foem1 zeoi3 wom1 ge3 ho1 life? gam2 zau6 jiu3 lai4 man4 jan1 tong4 ni1 go3 daai6 gaa1 ting4 laa3! [Jyutping]
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
你想要最firm最warm嘅hall life?咁就要嚟民殷堂呢个大家庭喇! [Hong Kong Cantonese, simp.]
- (neologism, of relationship between friends) close; intimate
- 2021, 吾見爾酒仙, “從酒聚看大學交際文化——是被接納抑或被同化?”, in 2021年 迎新特刊[5], 中大學生報 [Chinese University Student Press], page 76:
- 接納應該是接受和鼓勵與自身不一樣的特質,而不是要求人人成為倒模般的、「夠firm夠chur」的大學生。 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
- zip3 naap6 jing1 goi1 si6 zip3 sau6 wo4 gu2 lai6 jyu5 zi6 san1 bat1 jat1 joeng6 dik1 dak6 zat1, ji4 bat1 si6 jiu1 kau4 jan4 jan4 sing4 wai4 dou2 mou4-2 bun1 dik1, “gau3 foem1 gau3 coe2” dik1 daai6 hok6 saang1. [Jyutping]
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
接纳应该是接受和鼓励与自身不一样的特质,而不是要求人人成为倒模般的、「够firm够chur」的大学生。 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]
Derived terms
editNoun
editfirm
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) firm; business (Classifier: 間/间 c)
Etymology 2
editPronunciation
editVerb
editfirm
- (Hong Kong Cantonese) to confirm; to finalize
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- 她接著道:「也有的,他們需要時間process,但我們那邊的細節常常都未firm,我明白他們的難處,但這也是沒有辦法的事。」 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
- taa1 zip3 zoek6 dou6: “jaa5 jau5 dik1, taa1 mun4 seoi1 jiu3 si4 gaan3 process, daan6 ngo5 mun4 naa5 bin1 dik1 sai3 zit3 soeng4 soeng4 dou1 mei6 foem1, ngo5 ming4 baak6 taa1 mun4 dik1 naan4 cyu3, daan6 ze2 jaa5 si6 mut6 jau5 baan6 faat3 dik1 si6.” [Jyutping]
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
她接著道:「也有的,他们需要时间process,但我们那边的细节常常都未firm,我明白他们的难处,但这也是没有办法的事。」 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]
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Adjective
editfirm
Derived terms
editReferences
editGerman
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editAdjective
editfirm (strong nominative masculine singular firmer, comparative firmer, superlative am firmsten)
- (somewhat dated) experienced, well versed
- 1976 March 12, Heidi Dürr, “Kunstkenner per Post?”, in Die Zeit[8]:
- Er, der—laut Prospekt—wie alle Mitarbeiter “eine hohe fachliche Qualifikation” aufweist und die Gewähr dafür bietet, “daß Sie Ihr Studienziel erreichen, ein Kenner antiker Gegenstände zu werden”, ist nach eigener Aussage lediglich Fachmann für Malerei und Graphik. Auf anderen Gebieten sei er gar “nicht so firm”.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Declension
editnumber & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | |||
predicative | er ist firm | sie ist firm | es ist firm | sie sind firm | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | firmer | firme | firmes | firme |
genitive | firmen | firmer | firmen | firmer | |
dative | firmem | firmer | firmem | firmen | |
accusative | firmen | firme | firmes | firme | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der firme | die firme | das firme | die firmen |
genitive | des firmen | der firmen | des firmen | der firmen | |
dative | dem firmen | der firmen | dem firmen | den firmen | |
accusative | den firmen | die firme | das firme | die firmen | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein firmer | eine firme | ein firmes | (keine) firmen |
genitive | eines firmen | einer firmen | eines firmen | (keiner) firmen | |
dative | einem firmen | einer firmen | einem firmen | (keinen) firmen | |
accusative | einen firmen | eine firme | ein firmes | (keine) firmen |
number & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | |||
predicative | er ist firmer | sie ist firmer | es ist firmer | sie sind firmer | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | firmerer | firmere | firmeres | firmere |
genitive | firmeren | firmerer | firmeren | firmerer | |
dative | firmerem | firmerer | firmerem | firmeren | |
accusative | firmeren | firmere | firmeres | firmere | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der firmere | die firmere | das firmere | die firmeren |
genitive | des firmeren | der firmeren | des firmeren | der firmeren | |
dative | dem firmeren | der firmeren | dem firmeren | den firmeren | |
accusative | den firmeren | die firmere | das firmere | die firmeren | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein firmerer | eine firmere | ein firmeres | (keine) firmeren |
genitive | eines firmeren | einer firmeren | eines firmeren | (keiner) firmeren | |
dative | einem firmeren | einer firmeren | einem firmeren | (keinen) firmeren | |
accusative | einen firmeren | eine firmere | ein firmeres | (keine) firmeren |
number & gender | singular | plural | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | feminine | neuter | |||
predicative | er ist am firmsten | sie ist am firmsten | es ist am firmsten | sie sind am firmsten | |
strong declension (without article) |
nominative | firmster | firmste | firmstes | firmste |
genitive | firmsten | firmster | firmsten | firmster | |
dative | firmstem | firmster | firmstem | firmsten | |
accusative | firmsten | firmste | firmstes | firmste | |
weak declension (with definite article) |
nominative | der firmste | die firmste | das firmste | die firmsten |
genitive | des firmsten | der firmsten | des firmsten | der firmsten | |
dative | dem firmsten | der firmsten | dem firmsten | den firmsten | |
accusative | den firmsten | die firmste | das firmste | die firmsten | |
mixed declension (with indefinite article) |
nominative | ein firmster | eine firmste | ein firmstes | (keine) firmsten |
genitive | eines firmsten | einer firmsten | eines firmsten | (keiner) firmsten | |
dative | einem firmsten | einer firmsten | einem firmsten | (keinen) firmsten | |
accusative | einen firmsten | eine firmste | ein firmstes | (keine) firmsten |
Related terms
editFurther reading
editPolish
editPronunciation
editNoun
editfirm f
Zoogocho Zapotec
editEtymology 1
editNoun
editfirm
Derived terms
editEtymology 2
editAdjective
editfirm
References
edit- Long C., Rebecca, Cruz M., Sofronio (2000) Diccionario zapoteco de San Bartolomé Zoogocho, Oaxaca (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 38)[9] (in Spanish), second electronic edition, Coyoacán, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 220
- English 1-syllable words
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- Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)m
- Rhymes:English/ɜː(ɹ)m/1 syllable
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰer-
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- en:Business
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- Rhymes:Polish/irm
- Rhymes:Polish/irm/1 syllable
- Polish non-lemma forms
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- Zoogocho Zapotec terms borrowed from Spanish
- Zoogocho Zapotec terms derived from Spanish
- Zoogocho Zapotec lemmas
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