I.firmness, durability, strength (class.; syn.: constantia, firmitudo, perseverantia).
I. Lit.: ea, quae ille (Epicurus) propter firmitatem στερέμνια appellat, Cic. N. D. 1, 19, 49: age specta, postes cujusmodi! Quanta firmitate facti, Plaut. Most. 3, 2, 134: materiae, * Caes. B. C. 2, 11, 1: “amphorarum,” Plin. 35, 12, 46, § 161: “Aegyptii lini,” id. 19, 1, 2, § 14: “fastigiorum templorum,” id. 35, 12, 46, § 158: “uvae contra frigora, etc.,” id. 14, 3, 4, § 40: “vini,” id. 14, 2, 4, § 21: “gladiatoria totius corporis,” vigor, Cic. Phil. 2, 25, 63; cf. Quint. 8, 4, 16: “corporis,” id. 11, 3, 19; 2, 16, 13; Plin. Pan. 4, 7; 15, 1: “capitis, lateris pecorisve,” Quint. 11, 3, 16; 40: “firmitas et vigor vocis,” Gell. 2, 3, 4: “valetudinis,” Plin. 20, 5, 20, § 42. —In plur.: “pulvis Puteolanus aedificiis praestat firmitates,” Vitr. 2, 6.—
II. Trop., firmness, steadfastness, stability, endurance, constancy, power: “firmitas et constantia,” Cic. Fam. 9, 11, 1: “animi,” id. Sest. 44, 95; id. Att. 12, 38, 3; id. Tusc. 5, 26, 74: “sapientis,” id. Ac. 2, 20, 66: exercitus numero amplissimus, firmitate exiguus, Planc. in Cic. Fam. 10, 24, 3: “ut quisque minimum firmitatis haberet minimumque virium, ita amicitias appetere maxime,” Cic. Lael. 13, 46; cf.: “ea (amicitia) non satis habet firmitatis,” id. ib. 5, 19: “si aliquid firmitatis nactus sit Antonius,” id. Fam. 11, 12, 1: “imperii,” Suet. Vesp. 7.
