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Firm vs Infirm - What's the difference?

firm | infirm |

As adjectives the difference between firm and infirm

is that firm is steadfast, secure, hard (in position) while infirm is weak or ill, not in good health.

As verbs the difference between firm and infirm

is that firm is to make firm or strong; fix securely while infirm is to contradict, to provide proof that something is not.

As a noun firm

is (uk|business) a business partnership; the name under which it trades.

firm

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (UK, business) A business partnership; the name under which it trades.
  • (business, economics) A business enterprise, however organized.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=71, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= End of the peer show , passage=Finance is seldom romantic. But the idea of peer-to-peer lending comes close. This is an industry that brings together individual savers and lenders on online platforms.
  • (slang) A criminal gang.

    • Etymology 2

    (etyl) ferme, from (etyl) ferme, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • steadfast, secure, hard (in position)
  • * It's good to have a firm grip when shaking hands.
  • fixed (in opinion)
    • a firm''' believer; a '''firm''' friend; a '''firm adherent
  • * He was firm that selling his company would a good choice and didn't let anyone talk him out of it.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 9 , author=John Percy , title=Birmingham City 2 Blackpool 2 (2-3 on agg): match report , work=the Telegraph citation , page= , passage=With such constant off-field turmoil Hughton’s work has been remarkable and this may have been his last game in charge. West Bromwich Albion, searching for a replacement for Roy Hodgson, are firm admirers.}}
  • solid, rigid (material state)
    • firm''' flesh; '''firm''' muscles, '''firm''' wood; '''firm land (i.e. not soft and marshy)
    Derived terms
    * firm up * firmish * firmly * firmness * firmware

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make firm or strong; fix securely.
  • To make compact or resistant to pressure; solidify.
  • To become firm; stabilise.
  • To improve after decline.
  • Aust. To shorten (of betting odds).

    • Anagrams

    * * ----

    infirm

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Weak or ill, not in good health.
    • He was infirm of body but still keen of mind, and though it looked like he couldn't walk across the room, he crushed me in debate.
  • * Shakespeare
    • A poor, infirm , weak, and despised old man.
  • Irresolute; weak of mind or will.
  • * Burke
    • An infirm judgment.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Infirm of purpose!
  • Fail; unstable; insecure.
  • * South
    • He who fixes on false principles treads on infirm ground.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To contradict, to provide proof that something is not.
    • The thought is that you see an episode of observation, experiment, or reasoning as confirming or infirming a hypothesis depending on whether your probability for it increases or decreases during the episode.

    Antonyms

    * (l)