calm

calm [käm]

n.

[ME & OFr calme < OIt calma < LL (Vulg.: Job 30:30) cauma, heat, heat of the day (hence, in It, time to rest, quiet: see SIESTA) < Gr kauma, heat, esp. of the sun < kaiein, to burn; It sp. infl. by L calere, to be hot]

1. lack of wind or motion; stillness

2. lack of agitation or excitement; tranquillity; serenity

3. Meteorol. a condition in which the air movement is less than one mile per hour: see the Beaufort scale in the Reference Supplement

adj.

1. without wind or motion; still; quiet

2. not agitated or excited; tranquil or cool

vt., vi.

to make or become calm: often with down

calmly

adv.

calmness

n.

SYN.- CALM, basically applied to the weather, suggests a total absence of agitation or disturbance [a calm sea, mind, answer ]; TRANQUIL implies a more intrinsic or permanent peace and quiet than CALM [they lead a tranquil life ]; SERENE suggests an exalted tranquillity [he died with a serene smile on his lips ]; PLACID implies an undisturbed or unruffled calm and is sometimes used in jocular disparagement to suggest dull equanimity [she's as placid as a cow ]; PEACEFUL suggests a lack of turbulence or disorder [a peaceful gathering ] -ANT. STORMY, AGITATED, EXCITED