Where does “fermer” come from?
fermer (Middle English) comes from Old French fermier, from Medieval Latin firmarius, from Latin Firma, from Latin Firmus, from Proto-Italic fermos, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-s, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.
Ancestry of “fermer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | fermier | a farmer, a lessee, husbandman, bailliff |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | firmarius | one to whom land is rented, a collector of taxes,... |
| 3 | Latin | Firma | tax, tribute |
| 4 | Latin | Firmus | strong, powerful |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |