3. (Old Astron.) The orb of the fixed stars; the most rmote of the celestial spheres.
Firmamental
(Fir`ma*men"tal) a. Pertaining to the firmament; celestial; being of the upper regions. Dryden.
Firman
(Fir"man) n.; pl. Firmans (#) or [Pers. ferman.] In Turkey and some other Oriental countries,
a decree or mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; — generally given for special objects,
as to a traveler to insure him protection and assistance. [Written also firmaun.]
Firmer-chisel
(Firm"er-chis"el) n. A chisel, thin in proportion to its width. It has a tang to enter the handle
instead of a socket for receiving it. Knight.
Firmitude
(Firm"i*tude) n. [L. firmitudo. See Firm.] Strength; stability. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Firmity
(Firm"i*ty) n. [L. firmitas.] Strength; firmness; stability. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
Firmless
(Firm"less), a.
1. Detached from substance. [Obs.]
Does passion still the firmless mind control?
Pope. 2. Infirm; unstable. "Firmless sands." Sylvester.
Firmly
(Firm"ly), adv. In a firm manner.
Firmness
(Firm"ness), n. The state or quality of being firm.
Syn. — Firmness, Constancy. Firmness belongs to the will, and constancy to the affections and
principles; the former prevents us from yielding, and the latter from fluctuating. Without firmness a man
has no character; "without constancy," says Addison, "there is neither love, friendship, nor virtue in the
world."
Firms
(Firms) n. pl. [From Firm, a.] (Arch.) The principal rafters of a roof, especially a pair of rafters
taken together. [Obs.]
Firring
(Fir"ring) n. (Arch.) See Furring.
Firry
(Fir"ry) a. Made of fir; abounding in firs.
In firry woodlands making moan.
Tennyson. First
(First) a. [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr, Sw. & Dan. förste, OHG. furist, G. fürst
prince; a superlatiye form of E. for, fore. See For, Fore, and cf. Formeer, Foremost.]
1. Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the
first year of a reign.
2. Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
3. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
At first blush. See under Blush. — At first hand, from the first or original source; without the intervention
of any agent.
It is the intention of the person to reveal it at first hand, by way of mouth, to yourself.
Dickens.
