Now rare exc. in technical use. Forms: 4 ferme, 5–7 firme, 6 fyrme. [Partly ad. (either through F. fermer or directly) L. firmāre, f. firmus FIRM a.; partly a new formation on the adj.]
1. trans. To make firm or fast; to set or fix firmly or securely; also, to hold (a thing) fast.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth. I. v. 14 (Camb. MS.). Fastne and ferme thise erthes stable with thilke bonde by whiche thow gouerneste the heuene.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1369. And þat [tower] he fiches & firmes · sa fast to þe wall.
1609. Bible (Douay), Gen. vii. 16, Annot. The dore … was to be firmed without … for better induring the forcible waters.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., XIII. 246.
| Close he came swiftly on, | |
| Took her in violent hand, and to a stone | |
| Turn’d all her sylvan substance; all below | |
| Firm’d her with roots, and left her. |
1669. Boyle, Contn. New Exp., II. (1682), 46. The Reciever seemed to admit the external air, and the mercury came to the height of 18 digits; and therefore I firmed the cover with Turpentine.
1670. Walton, Lives, Donne, I. 77. The stones that were taken up in that Church to give his body admission into the cold earth (now his bed of rest) were again by the Masons art so levelled and firmed, as they had been formerly; and, his place of Burial undistinguishable to common view.
1808. J. Barlow, The Columbiad, VII. 735.
| They firm the base | |
| Of Freedom’s temple, while her arms they grace. |
1855. Singleton, Virgil, II. 70.
| With griping fang | |
| The anchor firmed the ships, and fringe the shores | |
| Their arching sterns. |
1885. Birm. Weekly Post, 7 Feb., 1/7. Keep spring flowers well firmed in the ground.
1890. Hosie, West China, 166. Twenty men and boys advancing in line, nearly knee-deep in mud and water, removing with their toes the weeds from the roots of the young shoots, and firming the latter in the ground.
† b. To fasten or fix (the eye) upon (something). Obs.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. vii. 1. As Pilot … Upon his card and compas firmes his eye.
† c. To steady, support. Obs. rare.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., V. xvi. 258. The staffe of his [Christ’s] direction, whereon if he firmeth himselfe, he may be able to overcom the billows of resistance.
2. To make firm in consistence; to compact, solidify.
1580. North, Plutarch (1676), 85. The force of the water could no more remove it from thence, but rather softly pressing and driving it together, dyd firme and harden it, and made it growe so to lande.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, II. i. It is the powder that made Venus a goddess (given her by Apollo), that kept her perpetually young, clear’d her wrinkles, firm’d her gums, fill’d her skin, colour’d her hair.
1610. W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. x. 24. Boggie and spungie grounds are are not a little setled, fastened and firmed by frequent ouer-flowing them with Fords or Land-flouds.
1757. Dyer, Fleece, III. 137.
| And ever and anon, to firm the work, | |
| Against the web is driv’n the noisy frame. |
1842. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., III. I. 125. By every means firm the land after wheat-sowing.
1882. The Garden, XXI. 18 March, 185/3. Plant carefully, well firming the soil about their roots with the hand.
1890. Hosie, West China, 19. There are no troughs of pulp, chemicals for bleaching, resin for watering, wire moulds for receiving, and drums for firming the paper as it comes from the pulp-troughs.
† 3. trans. To strengthen, make robust. Obs.
1592. Greene, Palmer’s Verses, viii. Wks. (Rtldg.), 303/2.
| When in the Virgin’s lap earth’s comfort sleeps, | |
| Bating the fury of his burning eyes, | |
| Both corn and fruits are firm’d, and comfort creeps | |
| On every plant and flower that springing rise. |
† 4. To establish, settle, confirm (a person, etc.); to strengthen (in resolution), encourage. Obs.
1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 9888.
| God ȝyue vs grace for hys myȝt | |
| Yn þe beleue to ferme vs ryȝt. |
1639. G. Daniel, Ecclus., xxii. 52.
| Soe the heart | |
| Which firmed is by what the Wise impart, | |
| Fear cannot daunt. |
1650. W. Brough, Sacr. Princ. (1659), 545. Solid Knowledge will so Firm the Mind in Truth, Mortification Confirm the Heart; Obedience to it, and the Maintainers of it, so Establish both.
1682. N. O., Boileau’s Lutrin, III. 171.
| Thy Valour firm’d the wavering Troops that day, | |
| And spirited their Files with fresh array! |
† 5. To make (an agreement, etc.) firm; to establish firmly, settle, strengthen. Obs.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. i. 40.
| Twa Erlys, and twa gret Barownys, | |
| Famows and mychty gret persownys, | |
| Come chargyd in Scotland wyth message | |
| To tret, and ferme a maryage. |
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1184/1. It was further concluded also, that a peace should be firmed and had betwixt the realmes of England and Scotland.
1504. Lodge, Wounds Civil War, III. i., in Hazl., Dodsley, VII. 135. Old Citizen. And we will firm our honours by our bloods.
1659. H. L’Estrange, Alliance Div. Off., 486. These testimonies firm the comparison betwixt such persons and Adam.
1673. Dryden, Amboyna, II. i. Har. Jun. Hold back your Hand, from firming of your Faith.
1729. Savage, Wanderer, I. 204.
| From the wild Waves he won the Belgic Land; | |
| Where wide they foam’d, her Towns, and Trafficks stand; | |
| He clear’d, manur’d, enlarg’d the furtive Ground, | |
| And firms the Conquest with his fenceful Mound. |
1808. J. Barlow, The Columbiad, II. 294.
| Thrice ten wide provinces, in culture gay, | |
| Bless the same king, and daily firm the sway. |
† b. To make (a possession, title, etc.) sure; to assure, secure; also, to attach (a person) securely. Const. to, unto. Obs.
1530. R. Whytford, Werke for Househ., E. The blessynge of the parentes dothe fyrme and make stable the possessyons and the kynred of the chylder.
1624. T. Scott, Belg. Souldier, 18. That Ferdinando Emperour, be especially carefull to firme and contract vnto himselfe by one meanes or other (especially consanguinity) the King of Poland, Saxony, and Bauaria.
1664. J. Wilson, A. Comnenius, V. iii.
| But since your joint unanimous consent | |
| Has firm’d that Title, which my birthright gave me; | |
| I cannot but I must acknowledge it. |
1669. J. Owen, in T. Gale, Jansenisme, Pref. That ground shall be firmed to them speedily by new Briefs, Orders or Decrees from the Court.
† c. gen. To ratify formally; to confirm. Obs.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 15. When hee [William the Conquerer] firmed and rubrickt Kentishmens gauill kinde of the sonne to inherite at fifteene.
1659. H. L’Estrange, Alliance Div. Off., 435. In all solemn Leagues, and federal Pacts, even Ethnique Theology hath always interested and engaged Religion: upon this account, amongst them they were no less solemnly firm’d by Oaths, than by Seals affixt.
1685. Dryden, Albion & Albanius, I. 8.
| Juno. ’Tis ratifi’d above by every God, | |
| And Jove has firm’d it with an Awfull Nod. |
1703. Pope, Thebais, 591.
| Be present still, oh Goddess! in our aid; | |
| Proceed, and firm those omens thou hast made. |
† 6. To make (a document) valid by authoritative seal, indorsement, signature, stamp, or the like; to subscribe, sign. Also, to firm with the hand.
1510. Will of J. Deram (Somerset Ho.). Fyrmed … wt my hand.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep., 62. To speake something with too much simplicitie or inconsidered, is a sheepishnesse, but to firme it with the hand, is meere follie. Ibid., 65. If the tyrant Catilene and other his felowes had not firmed the letter of their coniuration (although they were accused) they had not bene condemned. Ibid., 238. I caused your bill to be firmed by the Queene.
1588. Ord. Sp. Fleet, in Harl. Misc. (1744), I. 111. These my Instructions are delivered unto every Ship. and have their Copy, firmed by my Hand.
1613. Hayward, Norm. Kings, Will. I., 98. Charters and Deeds were before made firm by the Subscription of the Party, with Crosses of Gold, or of some other Colour; then they were firmed by the Parties special Seal, set upon Wax, under the Teste of three or four Witnesses.
1641. Termes de la Ley, 156 b. Writings … were wont to be firmed in England with Crosses of gold, and other holy signs.
1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, V. 120.
| Your Father’s hand, | |
| Firm’d with his Signet. |
† b. To affix, ‘sign’ (one’s name) to a document or writing. Obs.
1529. Will of A. Chew (Somerset Ho.), In witness whereof we … haue fyrmed our names.
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind. 153. And the better to auoid these daungers, and to keepe the Fleete in good order, he did set down certaine rules in writing by his Scriuenor, and firmed therevnto his name, with the names of the other Captaines, which they should obserue and keepe.
absol. 1529. Witt of A. Chew (Somerset Ho.), Because here is noo space to fyrme on this side we haue fyrmed on the other side.
1620. Shelton, Quix., IV. ii. 10. I’ll feign that my Right Hand is maimed, and so another shall firm for me.
7. intr. To become firm.
1882. in Ogilvie.
1883. [see ppl. adj. below].
1887. Darlington, Folk-speech S. Cheshire, Gloss., Firm, to grow firm. A cheese-making term.
Hence Firmed ppl. a. (spec. in Falconry: see quot. 1706). Firming ppl. a. a. trans. That confirms or ratifies. b. intr. That is becoming firm: see FIRM a. 7.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Fam. Ep., 36. It [a letter] had not come firmed or with superscription.
1625. Bp. Mountagu, App. Cæsar., Ep. Ded. I did it with a firmed purpose to leave all Private Opinions, and Particular Positions or Oppositions whatsoever, unto their owne Authors or Abbettors, eyther to stand or fall of themselves.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. IV., ccclxv.
| And Belgia, only (in a firméd state | |
| Wrought out by others) has been fortunate. |
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Firmed or full Firmed (in Falconry), well fledged or well cover’d with Feathers.
1816. L. Hunt, Rimini, iv. 96.
| ‘A noble word!’ exclaimed the Prince, and smote | |
| Preparingly on earth his firming foot. |
1839. Bailey, Festus (1854), 332. A vital wind invisible, Yet firmed and bounded in a beauteous form.
1883. Scotsman, 9 May, 10/1. Sold at firming prices.
