Definitions
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The state or quality of being firm; compactness; hardness; solidity; stability; strength; steadfastness; resoluteness; constancy; fixedness; certainty: as, the firmness of jelly; firmness of flesh; firmness of union; the firmness of a purpose; the firmness of a judge.
- n. In phrenology, an organ situated toward the back part of the head, between self-esteem and veneration. Its function is said to be to produce determination, constancy, and perseverance. Synonyms Firmness, Constancy, Faithfulness, Fidelity. Firmness is a matter of the will, preventing one from yielding; constancy, of the heart, holding one steadfast. Firmness is opposed to weakness or pliancy; constancy to fickleness. Faithfulness is a matterof the heart; it is generally a warmer sort of fidelity, with the element of principle sometimes less prominent. Fidelity is a matter of personal principle; the word more often than the others applies to definite action. We speak of the firmness of a teacher in maintaining order, the constancy of a lover, the fidelity of a bank cashier, the faithfulness of a mother. We may speak of the fidelity of a dog only as he meets trusts reposed in him, or is considered as having the power to apply principle to action as a moral being. See
decision and assiduity.
Wiktionary
- n. The state of being firm; strength; permanence; stability; hardness; resolution.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. The state or quality of being firm.
WordNet 3.0
- n. the quality of being steady or securely and immovably fixed in place
- n. the property of being unyielding to the touch
- n. the muscle tone of healthy tissue
- n. the trait of being resolute
Etymologies
- From firm + -ness (Wiktionary)
Examples
“It was partly an inheritance from a stupid tradition, which tried to combine what it called firmness with what it called conciliation; as if when we made up our minds to soothe a man with a five-pound note, we always took care to undo our own action by giving him a kick as well.”
“Privately, he thought he had been a trifle hard on the lad, and but for his obstinacy -- which he called firmness -- he would have recalled the prodigal.”
“Hillsborough was under the impression that a little firmness -- what he called firmness -- would soon bring the colonists to their senses, but every mail that came across the Atlantic showed that Lord”
A History of the Four Georges and of William IV, Volume III (of 4)
“Certainly there are times when presidential firmness is better than rapid changes in policy to suit public opinion.”
“The foam developed by Cargill replaces 20% of the petroleum-based foam and outperforms traditional foam in firmness, retention, support and durability.”
“Financial stocks gained on hopes for near-term firmness, which would benefit brokerages as well as insurers and banks with large securities holdings.”
The Wall Street Journal: Nikkei Stands Tall, Hits 8-Month High
“The moral would appear to be that firmness is required.”
“If firmness is preserved in dealing with those who are in variance in their conduct with the terms of the Charter, and if the nations speaking through the Security Council take a firm stand, based on principles and don't try to play the game of expediency, then I think we may be hopeful for the future.”
“Bless his memory, say I, for, though he might have had his faults, he was a right-honest true-hearted man -- brave as the bravest of his subjects, and firm too; though those who opposed him called his firmness obstinacy.”
“You call the firmness which is common in the early stages of their slavery _greater degeneracy; _ they are depraved, that is, in your language -- they are wicked and treacherous to those who have purchased them, or brought them from their own country.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘firmness’.
-
Interesting words
A list of words that are odd or words that I have looked up.
concupiscence, brize, scree, scoria, forestaff, spanaemia, valetudinarianism, distasture, pyrethrum, laudanum, gentian, bicameral and 11250 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for firmness.
Comments
No comments yet...
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.