Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Resistant to externally applied pressure.
  • adjective Marked by or indicating the tone and resiliency of healthy tissue.
  • adjective Securely fixed in place.
  • adjective Indicating or possessed of determination or resolution.
  • adjective Constant; steadfast.
  • adjective Not subject to change; fixed and definite.
  • adjective Unfluctuating; steady.
  • adjective Strong and sure.
  • transitive & intransitive verb To make or become firm. Often used with up.
  • adverb Without wavering; resolutely.
  • noun A business enterprise.
  • noun An unincorporated business, particularly a partnership.
  • noun The name or designation under which a company transacts business.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make firm; give consistence to.
  • To fix; establish; confirm.
  • To fix or direct with firmness.
  • To confirm by signing; make valid by subscription or indorsement.
  • noun The firm land; terra firma; in general, the mainland.
  • noun A sign manual; a signature.
  • noun A partnership or association of two or more persons for carrying on a business; a commercial house; a concern; also, the name or title under which associated parties transact business: as, the firm of Hope & Co.
  • Having consistence or solidity; compact; close in fiber or dense in grain; hard: as, firm flesh; cloth of a firm texture.
  • Strongly fixed; stable; rigid; immovable, or not easily moved: as, a firm foundation.
  • Steady; not tottering or shaking; not relaxed or feeble; vigorous: as, a firm step; a firm seat in the saddle; to rule with a firm hand.
  • Fixed in character; stable; enduring; established; steadfast; stanch: as, firm credit; firm prices; a firm friend; a firm conviction.
  • Strong in action or manner; resolute; positive; confident: as, a firm defense or resistance; a firm answer; the firm handling of a subject in art or literature.
  • Indicating firmness: as, a. firm countenance or demeanor.
  • Determined; positive; distinctly stated.
  • Synonyms Dense. Fast, established, secure.
  • 2 and Immovable, stanch, strong, sturdy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house
  • transitive verb obsolete To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish.
  • transitive verb obsolete To fix or direct with firmness.
  • adjective Fixed; hence, closely compressed; compact; substantial; hard; solid; -- applied to the matter of bodies
  • adjective Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or will; strong
  • adjective Solid; -- opposed to fluid.
  • adjective Indicating firmness

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun UK, business A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
  • noun business, economics A business enterprise, however organized.
  • noun slang A criminal gang
  • adjective steadfast, secure, hard (in position)
  • adjective fixed (in opinion)
  • adjective solid, rigid (material state)
  • verb transitive To make firm or strong; fix securely.
  • verb transitive To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.
  • verb intransitive To become firm; stabilise.
  • verb intransitive To improve after decline.
  • verb intransitive Aust. To shorten (of betting odds).

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments
  • adjective unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English ferm, from Old French, from Latin firmus; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian firma, from firmare, to ratify by signature, from Medieval Latin firmāre, from Latin, to confirm, from firmus, firm; see dher- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From German Firma ("business, name of business"), from Italian firma ("signature"), from firmare ("to sign"), from Latin firmare ("to make firm, to confirm (by signature)"), from firmus ("firm, stable").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus ("strong, steady").

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