Part 4327

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Solid; -- opposed to <i>fluid</i>; <as>as, <ex>firm</ex> land</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Indicating firmness; <as>as, a <ex>firm</ex> tread; a <ex>firm</ex> countenance.</as></def>

<syn>Syn. -- Compact; dense; hard; solid; stanch; robust; strong; sturdly; fixed; steady; resolute; constant.</syn>

<h1>Firm</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firm</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[It. <ets>firma</ets> the (firm, sure, or confirming) signature or subscription, or Pg. <ets>firma</ets> signature, firm, cf. Sp. <ets>firma</ets> signature; all fr. L. <ets>firmus</ets>, adj., firm. See <er>Firm</er>, <ets>a</ets>]</ety> <def>The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house; <as>as, the <ex>firm</ex> of Hope & Co</as>.</def>

<h1>Firm</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firm</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>fermen</ets> to make firm, F. <ets>fermer</ets>, fr. L. <ets>firmare</ets> to make firm. See <er>Firm</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>And Jove has <b>firmed</b> it with an awful nod. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To fix or direct with firmness.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>He on his card and compass <b>firms</b> his eye. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Firmament</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Fir"ma*ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>firmamentum</ets>, fr. <ets>firmare</ets> to make firm: cf. F. <ets>firmament</ets>. See <er>Firm</er>, <ets>v</ets>. & <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Fixed foundation; established basis.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Custom is the . . . <b>firmament</b> of the law. <i>Jer. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The region of the air; the sky or heavens.</def>

<blockquote>And God said, Let there be a <b>firmament</b> in the mi<?/st of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. <i>Gen. i. 6.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And God said, Let there be lights in the <b>firmament</b>. <i>Gen. i. 14.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; In Scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; the great arch or expanse over out heads, in which are placed the atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars <i>appear</i> to be placed, and are <i>really</i> seen.</note>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Old Astron.)</fld> <def>The orb of the fixed stars; the most rmote of the celestial spheres.</def>

<h1>Firmamental</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Fir`ma*men"tal</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Pertaining to the firmament; celestial; being of the upper regions.</def>

<i>Dryden.</i>

<h1>Firman</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Fir"man</hw> <tt>(? &or; ?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Firmans</plw> <tt>(#)</tt> <i>or</i> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[Pers. <ets>ferm\'ben</ets>.]</ety> <def>In Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; -- generally given for special objects, as to a traveler to insure him protection and assistance.</def> <altsp>[Written also <asp>firmaun</asp>.]</altsp>

<h1>Firmer-chisel</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firm"er-chis"el</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A chisel, thin in proportion to its width. It has a tang to enter the handle instead of a socket for receiving it.</def>

<i>Knight.</i>

<h1>Firmitude</h1> <Xpage=563>

<hw>Firm"i*tude</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>firmitudo</ets>. See <er>Firm</er>.]</ety> <def>Strength; stability.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>