noun · femininefirst declension
firma
firma f (genitive firmae)
Classical[ˈfɪr.ma]Ecclesiastical[ˈfir.ma]
Meaning
- Medieval Latinfemininetax, tribute
- Medieval Latinfemininerent
- Medieval Latinfemininefarm
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | firma | firmae fermae |
| genitive | firmae fermae | firmārum fermārum |
| dative | firmae fermae | firmīs fermīs |
| accusative | firmam fermam | firmās fermās |
| ablative | firmā | firmīs fermīs |
| vocative | firma | firmae fermae |
Origins
There is debate as to whether Medieval Latin acquired this term from Old English feorm (“rent, provision, supplies, feast”), from Proto-Germanic *fermō, *firhuma- (“means of living, subsistence”), from Proto-Germanic *ferhwō (“life force, body, being”), from Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- (“life, force, strength, tree”), or from Latin firmus (“solid, secure”), from Proto-Italic *fermos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-mo-s (“holding”), from the root *dʰer- (“to hold”). If the former etymology is correct, the term is related to Old English feorh (“life, spirit”), Icelandic fjör (“life, vitality, vigour, animation”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍂𐍈𐌿𐍃 (fairƕus, “the world”). Compare also Old English feormehām (“farm”), feormere (“purveyor”).
Descendants
- Frenchfermefrom Old French ferme
- Romanianfermăfrom Old French ferme
- Englishfarmfrom Old French ferme
- GermanFarmfrom Old French ferme
- Portuguesefarmefrom Old French ferme
- Portuguesefarmafrom Old French ferme
- Spanishfarmearfrom Old French ferme
- Englishfeormfrom Old French ferme
- Occitanferma
- Hawaiian Creolefarmfrom Old French ferme