Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

terra firma

 - 4 dictionary results

terra firma

[fur-muh]
–noun
firm or solid earth; dry land (as opposed to water or air).

Origin:
1595–1605; < L
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To terra firma
terra fir·ma   (fûr'mə)   
n.  Solid ground; dry land.

[New Latin : Latin terra, earth + Latin firma, feminine of firmus, solid.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

terra firma [(ter-uh fur-muh)]

Dry land, as opposed to the sea: “After our stormy voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, we were relieved to set foot on terra firma.” From Latin, meaning “firm (or solid) ground.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

terra firma 
1605, "part of the Italian mainland ruled by Venice," from Mod.L. terra firma, lit. "firm land," from L. terra "earth, land" (see terrain) + firma "firm," fem. of firmus (see firm (adj.)). Meaning "the land" (as distinct from "the sea") is first attested 1693.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see terra firma on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: