FIRM, originally dense or close ; hence steady, unchanging or fixed. From a late Latin use of firmare, to confirm by signature, firma occurs in many Romanic languages for a signature, and the English "firm" was thus used till the 18th century. From a transferred use came the meaning of a business house. In the Partnership Act, 189o, persons who have entered into partner ship with one another are called collectively a firm, and the name under which their business is carried on is called the firm name.