ferme
English
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
ferme (plural fermes)
- (cant) A hole.
See also
- parc ferme (etymologically unrelated)
References
- OED2
- 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fɛʁm/
audio (file)
Etymology 1
From Middle French ferme, from Old French ferm, ferme (“solid”), from Latin firmus (“solid, secure”), from Proto-Italic *fermos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer-mo-s (“holding”), from the root *dʰer- (“to hold”).
Adjective
ferme (plural fermes)
- firm
- Synonyms: dur, décidé
Derived terms
- de pied ferme
- terre ferme
Noun
ferme f (plural fermes)
- (carpentry) roof truss
Verb
ferme
- inflection of fermer:
- first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
- second-person singular imperative
Etymology 2
From Middle French ferme (“farm, farm buildings”), from Old French ferme (“lease for working, rent, farm”), from Medieval Latin ferma, firma (“rent, tax, tribute, farm”), 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”). Related to Old English feorh (“life, spirit”), Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐍂𐍈𐌿𐍃 (fairƕus, “the world”). Compare also Old English feormehām (“farm”), feormere (“purveyor”).
Noun
ferme f (plural fermes)
- farm
Derived terms
- fermage
- ferme piscicole
- fermette
- fermier
Descendants
- → Romanian: fermă
Further reading
- “ferme”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Italian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfer.me/
- Rhymes: -erme
- Hyphenation: fér‧me
Adjective
ferme f pl
- feminine plural of fermo
Noun
ferme f pl
- plural of ferma
Anagrams
- Efrem, freme, fremé
Latin
Etymology
From *ferimē, earlier superlative of ferē, from Proto-Italic *feramos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“to hold”). Cognates include firmus.
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈfer.meː/, [ˈfɛrmeː]
- (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈfer.me/, [ˈfɛrme]
Adverb
fermē (not comparable)
- Closely, quite, entirely, fully, altogether, just.
- Synonyms: prope, paene, ferē, iū̆xtā
- In general, generally, usually, commonly, for most of the time.
References
- “ferme”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “ferme”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- ferme in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Medieval Latin ferma, Old French ferme, and their etymon Old English feorm, from Proto-West Germanic *fermu, from Proto-Germanic *fermō.
Alternative forms
- farme, ferm, fyrme (late)
- feorme, veorme (early)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɛrm(ə)/, /ˈfarm(ə)/
Noun
ferme (plural fermes)
- A lease; the renting of land.
- Leased or rented land.
- A set yearly rent payment.
- A set yearly payment for a privilege.
- (by extension) A tax mandated by the realm.
- (chiefly Early Middle English) A feast or meal.
Related terms
- fermen
- fermour
Descendants
- English: farm
- → Dutch: farm
- → German: Farm
- → Portuguese: farme, farma
- → Yiddish: פֿאַרם (farm)
- Scots: ferm
- → Welsh: fferm
References
- “ferme, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- “ferme, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Etymology 2
From Old French ferm, ferme, from Latin firmus, from Proto-Italic *fermos.
Alternative forms
- ferm
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɛrm(ə)/
Adjective
ferme (plural and weak singular ferme)
- firm, steady (of objects)
- steady, enduring (of people, agreements, etc.)
Related terms
- fermely
- fermen
Descendants
- English: firm (remodelled after Latin)
- → Cantonese: firm
- Scots: firm (remodelled after Latin)
References
- “ferm, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Adverb
ferme
- firmly, steadily
Descendants
- English: firm (remodelled after Latin)
- Scots: firm (remodelled after Latin)
References
- “ferm(e, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Verb
ferme
- Alternative form of fermen (“to clean”)
Verb
ferme
- Alternative form of fermen (“to lease”)
Verb
ferme
- Alternative form of fermen (“to firm”)
Middle French
Etymology
From Old French ferm, ferme (“solid”), from Latin firmus (“solid, secure”).
Adjective
ferme m or f (plural fermes)
- firm
Descendants
- French: ferme
Old French
Etymology
From Medieval Latin ferma, firma (“rent, tax, tribute, farm”), from Old English feorm (“rent, provision, supplies, feast”), from Proto-Germanic *firmō, *fermō (“means of living, subsistence”), from *firhu- (“life force, body, being”), from Proto-Indo-European *perkʷ- (“life, force, strength, tree”).
Noun
ferme f (oblique plural fermes, nominative singular ferme, nominative plural fermes)
- lease (letting agreement)
- the land leased
- farm
Descendants
- Middle French: ferme
- French: ferme
- → Romanian: fermă
- French: ferme
- → Middle English: ferme, farme, ferm, fyrme; feorme, veorme (in part)
- English: farm
- → Dutch: farm
- → German: Farm
- → Portuguese: farme, farma
- → Yiddish: פֿאַרם (farm)
- Scots: ferm
- → Welsh: fferm
- English: farm
Adjective
ferme f
- oblique and nominative singular feminine of ferm
Romanian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈferme]
Noun
ferme f
- inflection of fermă:
- indefinite plural
- indefinite genitive/dative singular