calm

Etymology

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, “I burn”), or possibly from Latin caleō. Compare also Lombardic *chalm, *chalma (“frozenness”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kalmaz (“frozenness, cold”). Displaced native Middle English smilte (“quite, still, gentle”) from Old English smylte (“quiet, tranquil, calm, serene”).

adj

1. (of a person) Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.
2. (of a place or situation) Free of noise and disturbance.
3. (of water) with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.
4. Without wind or storm.

noun

1. (in a person) The state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.
2. (in a place or situation) The state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
3. A period of time without wind.

verb

1. (transitive) To make calm.
   to calm a crying baby
   to calm the passions
   to calm the tempest raised by Aeolus
2. (intransitive) To become calm.