Etimology
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”).
noun
firm (plural firms)
(UK, business) A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
(business, economics) A business enterprise, however organized.
(slang) A criminal gang, especially based around football hooliganism.
Examples
Synonyms: see Thesaurus:enterprise
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”.
Etimology
From Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus (“strong, steady”). Doublet of dharma.
adjective
firm (comparative firmer, superlative firmest)
Steadfast, secure, solid (in position)
Fixed (in opinion).
Insistent upon something, not accepting dissent.
Durable, rigid (material state).
Mentally resistant to hurt or stress.
Not frivolous or fallacious; trustworthy; solid; dependable.
Examples
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.
firm flesh; firm muscles, firm wood; firm land
[…] 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.
Although facilitators of the workshop for lesbians and bisexual women attempted to address the concerns of lesbians, little firm information emerged.
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.
adverb
firm (comparative more firm, superlative most firm)
(now rare) firmly, steadily
Etimology
From 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.
verb
firm (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, 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.