English
firmity
Firmity comes from Latin firmitas ‘firmness, durability, strength’, from firmus ‘stable, strong, firm’, 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‘stable, strong, firm’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmitas‘firmness, durability, strength’
- Englishearliest quotation 1586firmity
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‘stable, strong, firm’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfirmitas‘firmness, durability, strength’
- Englishearliest quotation 1586firmity
Earliest quotation: 1586, William Perkins, A right godly and learned exposition: “the firmity and ſledfaſtnes of the Church”.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- ‘to support’
dark, drug, dry, drama, dare, throne, drain, drone, feasible, drastic, refrain, darn, formidable, dazed, dharma, dor, dern, 36 more
through Proto-Italic *fermos
through Latin firmus ‘stable, strong, firm’
confirm, affirmative, infirmary, affirmation, affirming, firmament, infirm, 6 more
Today it means
noun strength; firmness; stability
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- / firmity