firmness, firmenesse

[Eng. firm; -ne .] I. Ordinary Language: 1. The quality or state of being solid, compact, or hard; solidity, compactne . "It would become by degrees of greater consistency and Armne , so as to resemble an habitable earth."Burnet: Theory of the Earth. 2. Durability, stability. "Both the easine and firmne of union might be conjectured, for that both people are of the same language."Hayward. 3. Certainty, surene . "In persons already po e ed with notions of religion, 2. To render firm or solid; to consolidate; to the understanding cannot be brought to change them, solidify. 3. To confirm, to establish. "Proceed and firm those omens thou hast made." Pope: Statius; Thebaid, i. 4. To strengthen, to confirm, to establish. "That folk is noght fermed in the feith." P. Plowman, 5,751. B. In trans.: To become firm, solid, or consolidated.