Middle English Dictionary Entry
ferm adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | ferm adj. Also ferme, forme. |
| Etymology | OF (from L firmus). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of things: firm, strong; steady; (b) of conditions, agreements, etc.: permanent, enduring, secure; ~ and stable.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1109 : Let make a cofre strong of bord, That it be ferm with led and pich.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)126b/b : Þat a man come not to þe operacioun..bot if he be subtile & ingeniose, wele seyng, & haf ferme [*Ch.(2): stable] handez.
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)1057 : Forth to francides he fared, suche a ferme yle.
b
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)50 : Þe Meuyng of þis eorþe..schulde bi cuynde be ferm & stabele.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)74/4 : Þou and all þat of þee sall com sall hafe were with[outen] ferme pees.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)57 : Be that cognisaunce holdyn for ferme and stabele att alle dayes.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.156v : All the princes confermed that all my men as well marchauntes as other þat by way of prayere wente to Rome that withoute any lette of closurs or thollus with ferme pees they may goo and come.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.141r : Oure lettre of confermacion euer twelle [?read: dwelle] forme and stable, vntobroke, iwrite and idoo in the tyme of Ayleward of the same mynstre abbot.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)255 : The Kyng of Frauns sent worchipful men into Ynglond to have a perpetual pes; and that it schuld be the more ferme and stabil, it was desired that the Kyngis schuld speke togider.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)227/5 : And that hys chartur sholde be ferme & stable, he confermyd hyt with hys seele.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)154 : Howe gret gode woll growe off the fferme endowynge off þe crowne.
2.
(a) Of persons: steadfast, steady; (b) of attitudes behavior, etc.: enduring, steady; (c) of an argument, proposition, etc.: well founded, sound.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)12.57 : That folk is nouht ferm in þe feith.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5226 : For no man may be amyable, But if he be so ferme and stable That fortune chaunge hym not.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.341 : Wherfore folke is þe feblere and nouȝt ferme of bilieue.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)17/9 : But y will haue her that is of demure manere, ferme in estat and countenaunce.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3175 : That his Pite be ferme and stable.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)15.208 : Þorw fuyr is follyng, and al is ferm byleyue.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.6.34 : The pris and the grace of the peple..ne cometh of wys jugement, ne is ferme perdurably.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3259 : Suld noȝt be foun in him fast ne ferme ne stable.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)15/30 : Kinges doughtres, or woman of noble birthe, and of good name, ferme behauing, well manered and condicioned.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1499 : What that he seith, I holde it ferme and stable; I seye the same or ellis thyng semblable.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)50/11 : Ȝif pope Martyns maundment be ferme & stable..þerfore holy fader..ordeyneþ..þat þis constitucioun be swiftlich declared.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1500 : This prayer was but resonable; Therfore God held it ferme and stable.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.3 : Alle thise thinges ben strongly bounden with ryght ferme resouns.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.187 : I schal..as verry resonable The schewen þat..So þat þo þinges stonde ferme and stable Whiche we byfore þis haue consentid to.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)20 : When sche is nyght to ferme the flesch of houndys hennys and of fat porke doth here grete good.
Note: Mod. gloss.
Note: See note 150 p.31 - 'ferm' is the falconer's expression for 'strong.'