See Also: Firm(money)
Firm(finance)
firm(2)(dictionary)
firm(dictionary)
firm(1)(dictionary)
Firm(medicine)
law firm(dictionary)
Firm order(finance)
Firm market(finance)
Firm anomalies(finance)

firm(1) (iou)



firm adjective & adverb. ME.
[Old & mod. French ferme from Latin firmus.]
A. adjective.
Securely fixed; not easily moved; steady, stable. ME.
firm land dry land, solid earth; the mainland; terra firma. on firm ground: see GROUND noun.
Oxford English Dictionary Try whether the post is firm in the ground. C. S. Lewis All the knots which you wished to be firm would come untied.
Not shaking or wavering; steady or controlled (esp. in motion). LME.
W. C. Bryant O aged man, would that thy knees were firm As is thy purpose. R. L. Stevenson He took my hand in his large firm grasp.
Fixed, settled, established; (of a decree, law, etc.) immutable; (of an offer) not liable to cancellation after acceptance. LME.
H. Macmillan In spite of some misunderstandings, the old alliance remained firm.
b. Assured, secure (as a possession etc.). LME-M18.
c. Certain, sure; valid. LME-L17.
Of a person, personal attribute, or action: not easily moved or swayed; steadfast; unwavering; resolute, determined. LME.
M. Edgeworth 'I am the count', replied he, in a firm tone. T. S. Eliot Be firm with her..Assert your right to a little privacy. J. Rathbone They remained firm in the Catholic faith suffering persecution..and like misfortunes.
Of solid or compact structure or texture; resistant to pressure or impact; hard, sound, undecayed. LME.
L. Deighton Its subsoil is firm enough to take the weight of a bombing plane. U. Bentley He had a firm, well-disciplined body.
Healthy, robust. Cf. INFIRM adjective. L16-L18.
Pope Lamented youth! in life's firm bloom he fell.
Of a price, commodity, etc.: maintaining a level or value. M19.
J. Archer Gold was still climbing and the Deutschmark..remained firm, while the dollar was on the retreat.
Comb.: firmware Computing a permanent form of software built into certain kinds of computers.
b. adverb. Firmly; so as to be or remain firm. Now chiefly in hold firm, stand firm. ME.
firmish adjective somewhat firm M19.
firmly adverb LME.
firmness noun M16.