English
fermata
Fermata comes from Italian fermare ‘to stop’, from Latin firmus ‘strong, powerful’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- ‘to support’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰer-‘to support’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fermosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmus‘strong, powerful’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmōas firmāre
- Italianc. 1300–presentfermare‘to stop’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentfermata
- Englishtodaysame form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰer-‘to support’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θermosreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fermosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmus‘strong, powerful’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmōas firmāre
- Italianc. 1300–presentfermare‘to stop’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentfermata
- Englishtodaysame form
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- ‘to support’
dark, drug, dry, drama, dare, throne, drain, drone, drastic, refrain, darn, feasible, formidable, dazed, dharma, dor, dern, 35 more
through Proto-Italic *fermos
through Latin firmus ‘strong, powerful’
confirm, affirmative, infirmary, affirming, affirmation, infirm, firmament, 5 more
through Latin firmō
Today it means
noun The holding of a note or rest for longer than its usual duration.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- / fermata