firmament, fyrmamente

[Fr., from Lat. firm amentum (1) a support, (2) the firmament, from firmo =to make firm, solid, or secure.] I. Ordinary Language : *1. That which makes strong or firm; a foundation, a basis. "Custom is the firmament of the law." -Jer. Taylor. 2. The portion of the sky visible from any place. "And God said Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters." -Genesis i. 6. Our translators took the word firmament from the Vulgate [ firm amentum ]. The translators of the Vulgate again took the idea of stability embodied in the word firm amentum from the Septuagint stereōma , but in reality the term in the original Hebrew rakia , implies not anything strong, but an expanse. It is from the verb raqa =to beat, to beat out, to stretch out. *3. A strong position in logic. *II. Astron.: The orb of the fixed stars, or the most remote of the celestial spheres. but by great examination of the truth and firmne of the one, and the flaws and weakne of the other."-South: Sermons . 4. A firm, steady, or resolute state of mind; resolution, constancy, fixedne of purpose; stead i ne . "Those who had recommended the amnesty represented with profound respect, but with firmne ."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng ., ch. ix. 5. Courage, resolution, determination. "A Spartan firmne with A then i an wit." Byron: Childish Recollections. II. Phrenology : An organ said to produce determination, resolution, constancy, and perseverance. It is situated toward the back part of the head, between Self-esteem and Veneration. For the difference between firmne and con stancy , see CONSTANCY.