firm
/fɜːm/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.79 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Example Sentences
- "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”."
- "It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands."
- "a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent"
- "firm favourites"
- "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."
- "He wanted to stay overnight, but I was firm with him and said he had to leave today."
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin firmoder. Italian firmarebf. Italian firmabor. English firm From 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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /fɜːm/
- British English: /fɜːm/
Usage
Inflected Forms
firms (plural)
firmer (comparative)
firmest (superlative)
more firm (comparative)
most firm (superlative)
firms (present, singular)
firming (participle, present)
firmed (participle, past)
firmed (past)