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Added 8 October 2026

calm

/kɑm/ adjective

In Latin: tranquillus, sēdātus, placidus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about calm at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
Free of noise and disturbance.
with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.

noun

The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.
The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
The absence of wind; a period of time without wind.

verb

To make calm.
to calm a crying baby
To become calm.

Origin

From Middle English calm, calme, from Middle French calme, probably from Old Italian calma, of uncertain origin. Calma may derive from Late Latin cauma (“heat of the midday sun”), from Ancient Greek καῦμα (kaûma, “heat, especially of the sun”), from καίω (kaíō, “to burn”), or possibly from Latin caleō. Compare also Lombardic *chalm, *chalma (“frozenness”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kalmaz (“frozenness, cold”). Displaced native Middle English smilte (“quiet, still, gentle”) from Old English smylte (“quiet, tranquil, calm, serene”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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