ferme

Noun

ferme (plural fermes)

1. (cant) A hole.

References

• OED2
• 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

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-Indo-European *dʰer-, *dʰrē- (“to hold”).

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 *firmō, *firhuma- (“means of living, subsistence”), from *firhu- (“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”).

Further reading

• “ferme” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Adjective

ferme f pl

1. feminine plural of fermo

Noun

ferme f pl

1. plural of ferma

Anagrams

• freme, fremé

Etymology

From *ferimē, earlier superlative of ferē, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“to hold”). Cognates include firmus.

Adverb

fermē (not comparable)

1. Closely, quite, entirely, fully, altogether, just.
2. 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

Etymology

From Old French ferm, ferme (“solid”), from Latin firmus (“solid, secure”), from Proto-Indo-European *dher(ə)-, *dhrē- (“to hold”).

Adjective

ferme m, f (plural fermes)

1. firm

Noun

ferme c (plural fermes)

1. farm

Etymology

From Medieval Latin ferma, firma (“rent, tax, tribute, farm”), from Old English feorm (“rent, provision, supplies, feast”), from Proto-Germanic *firmō, *firhuma- (“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)

1. lease (letting agreement)
2. the land leased
3. farm

Adjective

ferme f

1. oblique singular feminine of ferm
2. nominative singular feminine of ferm