Where does “unfirmly” come from?

unfirmly (English) comes from English unfirm, from English firm, from Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Medieval Latin ferma, from Latin Firma, from Latin Firmus, from Proto-Italic fermos — to support; to hold.

unfirmly (English): In an unfirm manner

Definitions

  1. In an unfirm manner

Ancestry of “unfirmly”, step by step

unfirmly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English unfirm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunfirmNot firm; not strong or stable; feeble; infirm
2EnglishfirmA business partnership; the name under which it...
3Middle EnglishfermeA lease; the renting of land
4Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
5Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
6LatinFirmatax, tribute
7LatinFirmusstrong, powerful
8Proto-Italicfermos
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
10Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via English ly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlyAbbreviation of light-year
2VietnameselyAlternative spelling of li
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-sEvery word from Proto-Italic fermos