calm

UK: kɑːm | US: kɑːm

Definition

  1. adj. free from agitation or disturbance; peaceful

  2. adj. (of weather) not windy or stormy

  3. vt. to make or become tranquil or quiet

Structure

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Etymology

"Calm" traces back to Greek kauma (καῦμα, "heat"), borrowed into Latin as cauma, referring to the stillness of midday when the sun is hottest. Through Old French calme, it evolved to mean "tranquility" in weather and emotions, reflecting the logic of heat-induced stillness. The shift from "heat" to "peaceful" mirrors Mediterranean cultural associations of midday rest.

Examples

  1. The lake was perfectly calm at dawn.

  2. She took deep breaths to calm her nerves.

  3. After the storm, the sea grew calm.

  4. His calm demeanor reassured the team.

  5. The teacher’s voice calmed the noisy classroom.