FIRM

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English ferm, from Anglo-French, from Latin ~us; akin to Greek thronos chair, throne Date: 14th century 1. securely or solidly fixed in place, not weak or uncertain ; vigorous , having a solid or compact structure that resists stress or pressure, 2. a. not subject to change or revision, not subject to price weakness ; steady , not easily moved or disturbed ; steadfast , well-founded , indicating ~ness or resolution , ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. adverb Date: 14th century in a ~ manner ; steadfastly, fixedly, III. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to make secure or fast ; tighten , to make solid or compact , to put into final form ; settle , to give additional support to ; strengthen , intransitive verb to become ~ ; harden , to recover from a decline ; improve , IV. noun Etymology: German Firma, from Italian, signature, ultimately from Latin ~are to make ~, con~, from ~us Date: 1744 the name or title under which a company transacts business, a partnership of two or more persons that is not recognized as a legal person distinct from the members composing it, a business unit or enterprise