Where does “ifema” come from?

ifema (Xhosa) comes 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, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-s — to support; to hold.

ifema (Xhosa): firm

Definitions

  1. firm

Ancestry of “ifema”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfirmA business partnership; the name under which it...
2Middle EnglishfermeA lease; the renting of land
3Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
4Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
5LatinFirmatax, tribute
6LatinFirmusstrong, powerful
7Proto-Italicfermos
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-