firmly
/ˈfɜːmli/FURM-lee
/ˈfɝmli/FURM-lee
Meaningin a way that is steady
Common meaning: in a firm way
- firmfirm, steadyLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 753 · scan
- lyadverb ending: in a way
Journey through time
- Latinfirmus‘firm, steady’
- Frenchferme
- Middle Englishfermesource
- Englishfirm‘solid’
- Englishformed in English from firmfirmly‘in a firm way’ · today
Sources & notes
Inferred source: no dictionary we use has an entry for this exact word. Its history is worked out from closely related, listed words in the same family, and we are trusting that link, so bear that in mind. Inferred meaning: in a way that is steady. It can be inferred from any of: firm, infirm.
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from firm + -ly (inferred: this exact word is not listed in our dictionaries).
Roots
- firmus Latin “firm, steady”
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