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.

  • 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
  • noun The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house

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

  • 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).
  • 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

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

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

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").

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Examples

  • That is our firm belief, and therefore you will find no despondency in Bohemia, but only _firm determination not only to defend to the last the integrity of our kingdom, but also to accomplish the unity of the whole Czecho-Slovak nation.

    Independent Bohemia An Account of the Czecho-Slovak Struggle for Liberty Vladim��r Nosek 1929

  • But you must remember, my dear, that part of his expenses for this trip was paid for by the firm -- the _firm_.

    Once Aboard the Lugger 1925

  • For a period, the retail shops were more careful in the number of genuine French models of gowns and hats which they exhibited, and the label firm confessed that its trade had fallen off.

    An Excursion into the Feminine Nature 1921

  • The title firm found out differently when Winfield was injured in a 1962 auto accident and her husband picked up her paycheck.

    latimes.com - News 2011

  • The title firm found out differently when Winfield was injured in a 1962 auto accident and her husband picked up her paycheck.

    latimes.com - News 2011

  • Deeley also severed ties with Reach Communications, the title firm RCS Searchers and all title companies doing business with the Sheriff's Office.

    Phillies Zone 2011

  • Private detective Douglas Pollock told the Palm Beach County Circuit Court last week that Carlson had '' absconded '' with the title firm's banking records and had locked them in her West Palm Beach residence, according to court records.

    unknown title 2009

  • Additionally, loyalty to the firm is an antiqauted notion.

    Innovation, Business Behavior, and Education, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty 2009

  • Mr. Cummings didn't comment specifically on Daqo or Global Education; his firm is an underwriter on Global Education's deal.

    Chinese IPOs Get Kinder Welcome in U.S. Lynn Cowan 2010

  • "It will probably take a little more than 3.6 billion euros" to reach the 8.6% target, which he called "firm."

    Euro Crisis to Hurt Ireland's Deficit-Cutting Efforts Sudeep Reddy 2011

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