fermeté

firmness

noun fehr-meh-TEH Rare

Also means

decisiveness

Usage Note

Fermeté conveys both physical firmness (a mattress, a handshake) and moral resolve. Avec fermeté is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning 'firmly' or 'with authority'. The adjective ferme shares the same root and covers both senses as well.

Examples

"Il a répondu avec fermeté."

Natural Translation

He answered with firmness.

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