Origin of word arms

English word arm comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)rmos, Old French (842-ca. 1400) armes, and later Old French (842-ca. 1400) arme (Weapon.)

You can also see our other etymologies for the English word arm. Currently you are viewing the etymology of arm with the meaning: (Verb Noun) (figurative) To furnish with means of defence; to prepare for resistance; to fortify, in a moral sense.. To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will add strength, force, security, or […](figurative) To furnish with means of defence; to prepare for resistance; to fortify, in a moral sense.. To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will add strength, force, security, or […]

Detailed word origin of arm

Dictionary entry Language Definition
*h₂(e)rmos Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) fitting
armes Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro)
arma Latin (lat) (Late Latin) weapon. (pluralonly) defence. (pluralonly) defensive arms, armor/armour, shields, weapons of war.. (pluralonly) soldiers, military power. (pluralonly) tools. (pluralonly) war.
arma Late Latin (LL)
arme Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro) Weapon.
armes Middle English (1100-1500) (enm)
arm English (eng) (figurative) To furnish with means of defence; to prepare for resistance; to fortify, in a moral sense.. To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will add strength, force, security, or efficiency.. To fit (a magnet) with an armature.. To prepare a tool or a weapon for action; to activate.. To supply with armour or (later especially) weapons. (in the plural) heraldic bearings or […]

Words with the same origin as arm

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It is long since I could have adventured on eternity, through God’s mercy and Christ’s merits; but death remained somewhat terrible, and that now is taken away; and now death is no more to me, but to cast myself into my husband’s arms, and to lie down with Him.

Donald Cargill

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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD ARMS

From Old French armes, from Latin arma.

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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

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PRONUNCIATION OF ARMS

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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ARMS

Arms is a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES ARMS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Arms

Arms or ARMS may refer to: ▪ Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body ▪ Armaments or weapons ▪ Firearms ▪ Small arms ▪ Coat of arms ▪ In this sense, «arms» is a common element in pub names ▪ ARMS Charity Concert ▪ ARMS Corporation, a Japanese anime and manga studio ▪ TRIN or Arms Index, a short-term stock trading index ▪ Amherst Regional Middle School ▪ Australian Relief & Mercy Services, a part of Youth with a Mission ▪ Amplification Refractory Mutation System ▪ Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of cancer ▪ «Arms», a song by Christina Perri from the album lovestrong ▪ ARMS, an American indie rock band formed in 2004 ▪ Arms, an architectural reference that was once a common naming convention for apartment buildings…


Definition of arms in the English dictionary

The definition of arms in the dictionary is military exploits. Other definition of arms is the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH ARMS

Synonyms and antonyms of arms in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS OF «ARMS»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «arms» and belong to the same grammatical category.

Translation of «arms» into 25 languages

online translator

TRANSLATION OF ARMS

Find out the translation of arms to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of arms from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «arms» in English.

Translator English — Chinese


武器

1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English — Spanish


brazos

570 millions of speakers

English


arms

510 millions of speakers

Translator English — Hindi


हथियार

380 millions of speakers

Translator English — Arabic


الأسلحة

280 millions of speakers

Translator English — Russian


руки

278 millions of speakers

Translator English — Portuguese


braços

270 millions of speakers

Translator English — Bengali


অস্ত্র

260 millions of speakers

Translator English — French


armes

220 millions of speakers

Translator English — Malay


Senjata

190 millions of speakers

Translator English — German


Waffen

180 millions of speakers

Translator English — Japanese


武器

130 millions of speakers

Translator English — Korean


85 millions of speakers

Translator English — Javanese


Penyelundupan

85 millions of speakers

Translator English — Vietnamese


cánh tay

80 millions of speakers

Translator English — Tamil


ஆயுத

75 millions of speakers

Translator English — Marathi


हात

75 millions of speakers

Translator English — Turkish


silâh

70 millions of speakers

Translator English — Italian


stemma

65 millions of speakers

Translator English — Polish


ramiona

50 millions of speakers

Translator English — Ukrainian


руки

40 millions of speakers

Translator English — Romanian


arme

30 millions of speakers

Translator English — Greek


τα χέρια

15 millions of speakers

Translator English — Afrikaans


arms

14 millions of speakers

Translator English — Swedish


armar

10 millions of speakers

Translator English — Norwegian


armer

5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of arms

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «ARMS»

The term «arms» is very widely used and occupies the 4.406 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Trends

FREQUENCY

Very widely used

The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «arms» in the different countries.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of arms

List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «arms».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «ARMS» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «arms» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «arms» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about arms

10 QUOTES WITH «ARMS»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word arms.

I’m attracted to long-legged girls with long arms and a little head.

For the theatre one needs long arms; it is better to have them too long than too short. An artiste with short arms can never, never make a fine gesture.

It is hard being a football loather, a football unfan. I sometimes feel as lonely as the sole survivor in the last reel of a Zombie film, as, one by one, old friends reveal themselves, with their glassy stares and outstretched arms, to have succumbed to the lure.

The hedonistic lifestyle is difficult to achieve when you’re still carrying your own gear. Trust me that you don’t feel glamorous with a 60-pound amp in your arms; it’s a lot less sexy than toting a vodka gimlet and impossible to do in heels.

Raise your eyes and count the small gang of your oppressors who are only strong through the blood they suck from you and through your arms which you lend them unwillingly.

It is long since I could have adventured on eternity, through God’s mercy and Christ’s merits; but death remained somewhat terrible, and that now is taken away; and now death is no more to me, but to cast myself into my husband’s arms, and to lie down with Him.

I can recall photographs of Comrade Ulbricht being embraced by Comrade Brezhnev, which must have been like putting your arms around Grant’s Tomb.

When I’m swinging the club at my best, it’s because I’m not thinking about mechanics at all. I feel like my body is loose. My arms are soft in front of me when I’m setting up, and my chest and shoulders feel as if they can move and turn easily.

Instead of starting a new nuclear arms race, now is the time to reclaim our Nation’s position of leadership on nuclear nonproliferation efforts.

The ancient Greeks noticed that a man with arms and legs extended described a circle, with his navel as the center.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ARMS»

Discover the use of arms in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to arms and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Sparksnotes present a clear discussion of the action and thoughts of the work.

After his little brother is shot and killed, Martin Luna struggles between staying out of trouble and avenging his brother.

Paul Langan, Ben Alirez, 2004

3

A Farewell to Arms: The Hemingway Library Edition

Featuring Hemingway’s own 1948 introduction to an illustrated reissue of the novel, a personal foreword by the author’s son Patrick Hemingway, and a new introduction by the author’s grandson Seán Hemingway, this edition of A Farewell …

4

Many Heads, Arms, and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of …

This convention grows out of imagery conceived by Vedic sages to explain creation. This book for the first time investigates into the meaning of this convention.

5

The Arms Dynamic in World Politics

How has that relationship changed? Considering the set of factors that influence the nature of armed forces, this comprehensive book puts these questions into historical and analytical perspective.

Barry Buzan, Eric Herring, 1998

Venus in Arms is Criss Jami’s second book of poetry. It contains a total of 24 poems lit with Jami’s original style of clever rhymes, witty wordplay, philosophical undertones, and classical references.

7

Delavier’s Anatomy for Bigger, Stronger Arms

Here, over 330 full-colour photographs and 130 anatomical illustrations allow you to go inside more than 100 exercises to see how muscles interact with surrounding joints and skeletal structures and how variations, progressions, and …

Frederic Delavier, Michael Gundill, 2011

Arms and the Man was George Bernard Shaw’s first commercially successful play.

George Bernard Shaw, 2009

9

Arms and Influence: With a New Preface and Afterword

10

The Global Sporting Arms Race: An International Comparative …

Over the last few decades the power struggle between nations to win medals in major international competitions has intensified.

Jerry Bingham, Simon Shibli, 2008

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ARMS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term arms is used in the context of the following news items.

Iran Says Nuclear Deal Must Include Lifting of UN Arms Embargo

VIENNA—Iran is pushing for the United Nations’ arms embargo on the country to be completely lifted, as part of a final agreement to curb its … «Wall Street Journal, Jul 15»

Takeaways: Blue Jays’ arms struggle in Detroit

Acquiring pitching would help, so there’s no question the Blue Jays should continue pursuing arms. But internal improvement is also a must. «Sportsnet.ca, Jul 15»

UATG Opens sales channel for Umbra Arms Battle Rifle, UBR-16

With UAT Arms getting ready to release its new Umbra Battle Rifle, Mr. … for UAT Arms. The UBR-16 will quickly become the gold standard in … «MarketWatch, Jul 15»

PUNJABI TADKA: Gun culture fuels illegal arms trade

Growing gun culture and a rising crime rate has swelled the demand for illegal arms and arms licences in Haryana, Punjab and neighbouring, … «Daily Mail, Jul 15»

Judge bribes, military arms sought: the Mafia’s alleged Australian …

Judge bribes, military arms sought: the Mafia’s alleged Australian operations. Date: July 6, 2015 — 8:18PM. 60 reading now; (29); Read later … «Sydney Morning Herald, Jul 15»

So You Want Sexier Arms ?

Fall weather is no excuse to avoid keeping your arms in tank-top shape. And the best way to get bare-able arms in a jiffy is to focus on the … «Loop 21, Jul 15»

Pro Palestine activists shut down Israeli arms factories in …

Pro-Palestine activists have shut down a factory in Kent owned by an Israeli arms factory as part of a protests marking the one-year anniversary … «International Business Times UK, Jul 15»

Use words, not arms: slain fighter’s mum

But she had just one message for any other young people thinking about also taking up arms: «Use words, not guns». After news of Reece’s … «9news.com.au, Jul 15»

Zlatoust: The cutting edge of Russia’s steel arms production

Russian armorers have for centuries been famed for their steel side-arms, producing high-quality sabers and cavalry swords whose reputation … «Russia Beyond the Headlines, Jul 15»

Citi says SMSFs, low returns may push major banks to sell-off wealth …

Citi analyst Craig Williams noted that the banks’ wealth arms, largely acquired in the early 2000s, had not become «the fast growing, low capital … «Sydney Morning Herald, Jul 15»

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Arms [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/arms>. Apr 2023 ».

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Discover all that is hidden in the words on educalingo

Evan Coley
Dr. Rehyansky
Modern English Grammar
4/15/2010

Etymological History of the Word Arm

Etymological histories tend to be a bit drab. All you do for several thousand words is talk about one specific word and different ways it has been used throughout history, showing by examples galore and then vivisecting forms and discussing in detail that which would already bore the most patient of men. It is sad to say that this is not much different. The word arm has a lengthy history which traces its roots across several continents, has seen several relevant transitions, and has lasted for over a thousand years. Over the course of its usage, arm has been used as a noun, as a verb, and even as an adjective, albeit it was used adjectivally an ephemeral amount of time comparatively. All this time, arm has shown remarkable longevity and consistency in the ways in which it has been used, compared to the obsoletion which many words face in a battle with time. This timeless word has shown up in Christian apologetics, calls to war, poetry, and many of the government documents various countries have used over the course of time. It’s always best to start at the beginning, so let’s begin at the word’s inception, around the middle of the 10th Century AD.

The first known use of the word in a somewhat modern form of the word arm is the same way that is used most commonly today. That is, it is used simply as a biological identifier to talk about the appendage that extends from our shoulders down to our hands – but excluding the hand itself (Oxford English Dictionary arm, n.1). To talk about the origins of this word geographically is to trace a long and complicated history. Essentially, though, different forms of the word moved across Europe on a westward track as a series of affixes followed by a series of actual full morphemes. It originated in ancient Sanskrit – one of the oldest Indo-European languages – from the Aryan root ar- meaning “to join” (Oxford English Dictionary arm, n.1). From there, we see its movement from eastern Europe into Greece and then slightly more westward into the boot of Italy. We will see much more of its history in these places in further uses. Where it begins to move westward towards its use in England, and subsequently America, is its movement into the Germanic languages. We see forms of arm in multiple different Germanic languages such as Old Teutonic, Gothic, Old Norse, Old High German, Old Frisian, and Old Low German (Oxford English Dictionary arm, n.1). The languages were fairly prominent in modern day Germany as well as surrounding Scandinavian countries. We know that these Germanic languages had a huge influence on Old English, as well as Middle English and Modern Day English. It is this influence which has essentially generated many commonplace words that we use consistently today. Our biological term arm is one of these words.
One of the earliest places that this use can be seen is in the Lindisfarne Gospel of Luke. The Lindisfarne Gospels are a series of books composed in the 8th century which had the entire Vulgar translation of the four canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) of the Bible as well as ornate, colorful decorations throughout to accompany the text (citation). At a later date, around 950 AD, the Gospels were translated into Anglo-Saxon and were then included as parts of the modern day Lindisfarne Gospel. In the Lindisfarne version of Luke 2:28, it reads, “He onfeng him on armum his” (Oxford English Dictionary arm, n.1). In the KJV, this has been translated as, “Then took he him up in his arms” (Luke 2:28 King James Bible). Here, one can see that though the obvious denotation is that of taking another in one’s arms, there is an underlying connotation of immediate intimate closeness in taking someone in your arms. This becomes a pattern through much of this word’s usage. There are the obvious physical meanings but somehow implied in the word itself is a reaction which indicates closeness or indicates a lack of trust or intimacy.

In yet another religious reference, one can see the closeness being associated with being in another’s arms. In the 14th century poem An Orison of Our Lord, the poet writes, “hwine warpe ich me bitweone the ilk earmes swa swith wide to-spradde. / he openeth swa the moder hire earmes hire leoue child for to cluppen… / hwi nam ich in thin earmes. In thin earmes swa istrahte and isprad on rode” (Hannaford and Jobling). This translates (from Anglo-Saxon) to, “Oh, that I might cast myself between those same arms, so very wide outspread! He openeth them as doth the mother he arms to embrace her beloved child. O that I were in thy arms, in the arms so outstretched and outspread on the cross!” (Hannaford and Jobling) Here again we see arms in a form very similar to the one which it takes today. The spelling is not as modern but it follows from that same root and has both the same denonotation and connotation as it did almost 400 years before.

Obviously there are times when arm does not have this connotation of closeness (or for that matter denial of closeness). We can see this in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline when Iachimo is trying to convince Posthumus that he slept with Imogen. Iachimo is talking about Imogen’s bracelet that he took while she was sleeping and he says, “Sir, I thank her, that. / She stripped it from her arm; I see her yet” (Shakespeare). There is no underlying connotation in this sentence – just the arm as it is. This biological definition appears everywhere, because the language for bodyparts has changed so little over time. We’ve seen its use in both Anglo-Saxon, Middle English, and Early Modern English. An example of its use in modern English can be found in the staple biology book Henry Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body in which he has a full section dedicated to the “The Muscles and Fasciæ of the Arm” (Gray). One cannot get more empirical than diagramming something and labeling its parts, and that is exactly what Gray did. It is obviously a part of our vocabulary today. One can see an obvious example in Frank Miller’s depiction of the battle at Thermopylae between Persians and Spartans in the movie 300. In the scene in which a Persian ambassador comes to talk to King Leonidas, his limb is cut off when trying to whip a Spartan for disrespecting him and King Xerxes. At the loss of his limb, in shock all he can scream is, “My ARM!” (Snyder)

Before moving on to its other uses, it is important to discuss the connotation I mentioned before. The arms have long carried a connotation of being able to welcome someone or deny someone an intimate place close to oneself. This is evident in the passage above which talks of being in the arms of Jesus as well as many passages yet to come. Significant others often talk of being in each other’s arms as if that is a place where they are close to one another and that is a privilege they alone possess. We can see a similar idea in the radio hit “Right Here in These Arms” by Finnish rock band HIM: “She’ll be right here in my arms / So in Love / She’ll be right here in these arms / She can’t let go” (HIM). This connotation of closeness is obviously present in this song. This specific usage is somewhat restricted to romantic relationships, however there are many different phrases employed in this manner to describe both friendship and romantic relationships. “Arm-in-arm” is an example of a phrase which has both literal and figurative meaning (Oxford English Dictionary arm, n.1). This phrase itself traces its roots to at least the 14th century, around 1374, when it was used by Geoffrey Chaucer in Troilus and Cressida. “With that they wenten arm in arm y-fere / in-to the gardin from the chaumbre doun,” (Chaucer). On the one hand, it indicates that two people are walking and have linked their arms together, but on the other it seems to indicate that these people are not only in close proximity to one another, but also communing closely with one another. In other words, they are good friends and aren’t being forced to walk so close with one another.

On their 1999 album Human Clay, American rock band Creed had a song entitled “With Arms Wide Open.” This song, with its idiomatic title, is from singer Scott Stapp to his then-unborn son about being positive and essentially “grabbing the bull by the horns.” You can get this sense of welcoming what comes by looking at some of the final lyrics in the song. “…he can take this life / And hold it by the hand / And he can greet the world / With arms wide open…” (Creed). Obviously, this is not a reference to greeting the physical world itself with arms spread wide, but an expression of welcoming what comes one’s way. We see this type of greeting as prevalent in various cultures, from handshakes to hugs, because we make signs in real life which can only fit into language through metaphor and symbolism. This is because we try to ascribe familiar physical and linguistic characteristics to ideas and feelings. We can see it not only in greetings, but in the way people respond when they feel threatened. Idiomatically, we can see how this connotation is employed in linguistics when we look at phrases like “stay at arm’s length” when talking to someone about not getting too close to you or when we talk about the “long arm of the law” in speaking about how a police force maintains a presence in any given area. This connotation is not only extremely interesting, but also integral when trying to understand the history of such a commonplace word and the many different attributes which one ascribes to and specific functions and cultural signs that one reserves for even parts of his own body.

Before moving on to the more action-oriented denotations of “arm” we can look at it in terms of biology also as a verb. Essentially, there are several meanings which are somewhat rare or completely obsolete in their usages which indicate action done with one’s arm. Again, in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, it is used when Lucius is talking to Imogen and he says, “Come, arm him” meaning essentially “take him in your arms” (Shakespeare). Another instance of it being used as a verb yet still referring to a physical movement of the arm is in Lancaster’s Præter where it says, “ The princess arm’d his neck” (OED arm, v.2) which means “to put one’s arm round” (OED arm, v.2). Lastly, it can mean to walk arm-in-arm as was mentioned earlier when talking of idioms. None of these uses are common in modern English, though some are not considered obsolete at this point.

Its second prominent meaning is more sinister and more violent. “Arma virumque cano” wrote the great Latin poet Vergil in the first line of the epic poem The Aeneid (Vergil). The translation of this is, “I sing of arms and of a man” (Mandelbaum) and Vergil was not singing of someone’s limbs, but of war. For that is what the books are about: war (the Trojan war) and the wanderings of Aeneas – the Trojan hero: a man. One can see how “arms” was derived from this Latin root “arma.” The structure is almost exactly the same aside from the neuter “-a” which ends the word. Similarly, the meaning of the word has not changed much over time aside from its encompassing the inevitable improvements in weapon technology which occurred over the next couple millennia. One can see this use spring into the history of English in the late 13th century and early-to-mid 14th century by Chaucer as well as many of his contemporaries. We can see the multiple ways in which it is used to reference weaponry – both generally and specifically. In Shakespeare’s Richard II, published around 1611, Scroop is talking to Richard and says, “Boys with women’s voices / Strive to speak big, and clap their female joints / In stiff unwieldy arms against thy crown” (Shakespeare, Richard II). In this passage, arms means defensive armour. Try to think of a suit of armor in the Arthurian sense. However, arm can also mean to take a defensive or offensive position against and enemy. This is simply to be at arms. This is one of the more general meanings ascribed to arms — battle. There are however, more specific items which “arm” may refer to.

Arms can be extended from a general fighting definition to a more specific meaning which is used to indicate specific types of weaponry. In a wartime situation, a soldier’s M4A1 assault rifle and USP45 handgun are each considered to be small arms (compared with artillery, mortars, etc) and together are called a stand of arms (OED arm, n.2). As military technology advanced and gunpowder became a staple of warfare, fire-arms became a common word which referred to guns in combat (OED arm, n.2). These weapons are wholly offensive in that they are meant to harm someone else rather than defensive armor like that found in Richard II. A controversial use of the word which is consistently seen in American life is concerning that which is mentioned in the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America which states that citizens have the “right to bear arms.” In this instance, it’s talking about citizens defending themselves from those threatening their well-being by taking up arms or using weapons – likely referencing guns. The “right to bear arms” is likely the most prevalent use of the word as gun control is a hot topic political issue.

Once again, as a word so commonplace as arms is prone to, there are many different forms which it will take as phrases used in everyday life. For instance, someone of, at, or in-arms is someone who fights as a soldier, warrior, or other type of person in a violent job. Another Shakespearian example can be found in Henry VI, Part 3 when Prince Edward is talking to Queen Margaret, the Duke of Somerset, and the Earl of Oxford and says, “Infuse his breast with magnanimity / And make him, naked, foil a man at arms” (Shakespeare, The Third Part of Henry the Sixth). Here one can see how during this period of time, a man at arms was essentially a man trained for war – someone who knew how to fight and the phrase retains that meaning to this day. This leads to another usage that is quite similar in nature. Arms can also mean the “profession of arms” or “service as a soldier” (OED arm, n.2). It can be seen first in Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 1, when Alencon says, “Of all exploits since first I followed arms / Ne’er heard I of a warlike enterprise / More venturous or desperate than this” (Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Sixth). And once more it can be seen in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen in Canto 4, “Young knight, what ever that does armes professe… beware of fraud, beware of ficklenesse” (Spenser). These two quotations both indicate that “arms” was not merely battle, or the weapons used in battle but also a skill that should be sought after by military professionals and warriors.

Arms is used with combinations of other words as a call to prepare for battle. In these different battle cries, arms takes on that meaning of generalized war, defense, or offense. In the mid-to-late 15th century Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte Darthur was a fascinating work as it contained many different fictitious stories about King Arthur. In one, Merlin is about to attack the camp of Arthur when a scout catches sight of the attackers and shouts, “Lords! At arms! For here be your enemies at your hand!” (Malory) One can see that “arms” or “armes” when preceded by a preposition often means to be ready to fight, fight, or be on guard. Even in the deuterocanonical book of 1st Macabees, we see the translation (dating to around 1611) as, “Ionathan commanded his men.. to be in armes” (OED arm, n.2) which implies that his men are to be ready to fight. Simply shouting “Arms!” is an equivalent of the modern day, “ATTACK!” as it used by Shakespeare’s sentinels in Henry VI, Part 1 who shout, “Arm! Arm! The enemy doth make assault!” (Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Sixth).

Another example of an idiom which is commonly used is to “put” or “lie down arms.” This can be used literally as a means of talking about surrendering in battle or it can be used figuratively. In his 1960 benchmark work on “evil and the question of God,” The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis writes, “We are not merely imperfect creatures who must be improved: we are, as Newman said, rebels who must lay down our arms” (Lewis). In this passage Lewis is talking about man’s rebellion against God and has used a war metaphor to indicate that instead of rebelling, man must surrender to God. In this sense, arms are not necessarily physical weapons – but emotions and intentions as well as human action. Once again, one sees how flexible the English language is in the hands of someone who knows how to wield it correctly.

Aside from the actual physical weaponry, defensive armours, and language based in war metaphors there some other ways in which arm can be used as a noun. Arm can be used to represent authority. This seems to be an interesting combination of the two primary noun types which have been talked about. Take the following verse for instance from the 1611 translation of the KJV (Ezekial 30:21), “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and , low, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword” (King James Bible). There is definitely a metaphor which relies on the imagery of an actual physical arm, but at the same time, the arm is meant to represent power in war – that is how it holds onto the war metaphor of the second type of noun. The presence of the sword, or lack thereof, is meant to bring that idea of the arm securing national power to the forefront of the mind.

In its last verbal form, one can see arm as an extension of its second noun form. It still has to do with weaponry and battle but it has much more to do with getting ready for battle and picking up the aforementioned weapons. To arm oneself is to get ready for battle and secure one’s fire-arm. It can also be doing the same to another person – for example, in Genesis 14:14, when Abram’s brother Nahor is in trouble it says, “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house” (King James Bible). This seems to indicate that he went to taken vengeance on the person who had taken Nahor and had prepared his servants to help in the battle to free his brother. Another example of arm as a verb meaning to prepare for battle is in Shakespeare’s Macbeth when Macduff and Macbeth’s other opponents are marching on Macbeth’s home at Dunsinane and Macbeth is telling all the people in his castle to prepare to battle and says, “and now a wood / Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out!” (Shakespeare). Macbeth is giving an imperative command to get ready for battle.

Lastly, the only completely obsolete form of arm is its adjectival form. In the Anglo-Saxon Bible, which was completed around 1000 AD, there is an example in Mark 12:42 which reads, “ a com án earm wuduwe” (OED arm, a.) which translates to, “And there came a certain poor widow” (King James Bible). Here “earm” means poor. There are also times in 12th and 13th centuries when it or a similar form was translated as “miserable or wretched” (OED arm, a.). These forms have been completely obsolete since this time and have shown no sign of resurgence at all.

For longevity’s sake, all of the different individual meanings of arm have not been covered, though many more exist. The word has been around for quite a long time in English and has seen little significant change other than a dropped vowel or two. Furthermore, it bears a strong resemblance to Latin, Greek, and even Sanskrit forms to which its etymology is related. As a word which has been around for so long, arm has become a significant part of the phrasology which is distinct to our culture. However, I believe the most interesting thing about “arm” is the fact that it has two different strong forms which both seem to be interconnected with one another in multiple ways. This takes place in both nominal and verbal forms. This gives arm a lot of room to be bent to fit whatever mold it needs to. As it were, arm probably is not going anywhere, but if it does the change will be welcomed with open…

 Works Cited

300. Dir. Zack Snyder. 2006.

Chaucer, Geoffrey. Troilus and Cressida. eBookMall, n.d.

Creed. «With Arms Wide Open.» Human Clay. 1999.

Gray, Henry. IV. Myology. 7d. The Muscles and Fasci; of the Arm. Gray, Henry. 1918. Anatomy of the Human Body. 1918. 14 April 2010

.

Hannaford, Robert and J’annine Jobling. Theology and the Body: Gender, Text and Ideology. Gloucester: Short Run Press Ltd., 1999.

HIM. «Right Here in My Arms.» Razorblade Romance. 2000.

«King James Bible.» Tuscaloosa, AL: Inspirational Gift Company, 2003. 303,253.

Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2001.

Malory, Sir Thomas. Morte Darthur. London: Macmillan and Co., 1868.

Mandelbaum, Allen. The Aeneid of Vergil. Bantam, 1971.

OED arm, a. 15 April 2010

.

OED arm, n.2. 1989. 15 April 2010

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OED arm, v.2. 1989. 15 April 2010

.

Oxford English Dictionary arm, n.1. 1989. 14 April 2010

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Shakespeare. Macbeth. New York: Dover Publishers, 1993.

Shakespeare, William. «Cymbeline.» Orgel, Stephen and A.R. Braunmuller. The Complete Pelican Shakespeare. New York: Penguin Books, 2002. 661.

—. Richard II. New York: Penguin Books, 2002.

—. The First Part of Henry the Sixth. New York: Penguin Books, 2002.

—. The Third Part of Henry the Sixth. New York: Penguin Books, 2002.

Spenser, Edmund. The Longman Anthology of British Literature: The Faerie Queen. Ed. David Damrosch. Vol. A. New York: Pearson-Longman, 2004.

Vergil. Vergil’s Aeneid: Selections from Books 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, & 12. Ed. Laurie Haight Keenan. Wauconda: Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers, Inc., 2001.

  • Defenition of the word arm

    • The upper limb, extending from the shoulder to the wrist and sometimes including the hand.
    • A part of an object (usually rigid and relatively long) that extends from the centre or main section.
    • To prepare oneself for a military confrontation.
    • A division of some larger or more complex organization.
    • To supply with arms.
    • the part of an armchair or sofa that supports the elbow and forearm of a seated person
    • technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
    • supply with arms; «The U.S. armed the freedom fighters in Afghanistan»
    • any projection that is thought to resemble an arm; «the arm of the record player»; «an arm of the sea»; «a branch of the sewer»
    • prepare for a military confrontation; «The U.S. is arming Saudi Arabia»
    • an administrative division of some larger or more complex organization; «a branch of Congress»
    • the part of a garment that is attached at armhole and covers the arm
    • weaponry used in fighting or hunting; «he was licensed to carry a weapon»
    • the part of a garment that is attached at armhole and provides a cloth covering for the arm
    • any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; «he was licensed to carry a weapon»
    • a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
    • prepare oneself for a military confrontation; «The U.S. is girding for a conflict in the Middle East»; «troops are building up on the Iraqui border»
    • any projection that is thought to resemble a human arm
    • the part of a garment that is attached at the armhole and that provides a cloth covering for the arm
    • any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
    • a division of some larger or more complex organization
    • prepare oneself for a military confrontation
    • supply with arms

Synonyms for the word arm

    • appendage
    • armrest
    • branch
    • build up
    • division
    • equip
    • fortify
    • gird
    • give arms to
    • limb
    • offshoot
    • part
    • section
    • sleeve
    • subdivision
    • supply with weapons
    • support
    • upper limb
    • weapon
    • weapon system
    • wing

Similar words in the arm

    • arm
    • arm’s
    • armada
    • armada’s
    • armadas
    • armadillo
    • armadillo’s
    • armadillos
    • armageddon
    • armageddon’s
    • armageddons
    • armagnac
    • armagnac’s
    • armament
    • armament’s
    • armaments
    • armand
    • armand’s
    • armando
    • armando’s
    • armature
    • armature’s
    • armatured
    • armatures
    • armaturing
    • armband
    • armband’s
    • armbands
    • armchair
    • armchair’s
    • armchairs
    • armenia
    • armenia’s
    • armenian
    • armenian’s
    • armenians
    • armful
    • armful’s
    • armfuls
    • armhole
    • armhole’s
    • armholes
    • armies
    • arminius
    • arminius’s
    • armistice
    • armistice’s
    • armistices
    • armlet
    • armlet’s
    • armlets
    • armonk
    • armonk’s
    • armor
    • armor’s
    • armored
    • armorer
    • armorer’s
    • armorers
    • armories
    • armoring
    • armors
    • armory
    • armory’s
    • armour
    • armour’s
    • armpit
    • armpit’s
    • armpits
    • armrest
    • armrest’s
    • armrests
    • armstrong
    • armstrong’s
    • army
    • army’s

Meronymys for the word arm

    • arm bone
    • armchair
    • arms
    • arteria brachialis
    • articulatio cubiti
    • articulatio radiocarpea
    • biceps brachii
    • biceps humeri
    • body
    • brachial artery
    • carpus
    • cephalic vein
    • cubital joint
    • cubital nerve
    • cubitus
    • cuff
    • elbow
    • elbow joint
    • forearm
    • garment
    • hand
    • homo
    • hook
    • human
    • human being
    • humerus
    • implements of war
    • man
    • manus
    • mauler
    • mitt
    • munition
    • musculus biceps brachii
    • musculus triceps brachii
    • nervus ulnaris
    • organic structure
    • paw
    • physical structure
    • radiocarpal joint
    • triceps brachii
    • turnup
    • ulnar nerve
    • vena cephalica
    • weaponry
    • weapons system
    • wrist
    • wrist joint
    • wristband

Hyponyms for the word arm

    • blade
    • bow
    • bow and arrow
    • brand
    • brass knuckles
    • brass knucks
    • dolman sleeve
    • executive branch
    • Executive Office of the President
    • fire ship
    • flamethrower
    • forearm
    • Greek fire
    • gun
    • hatchet
    • judicial branch
    • knife
    • knuckle duster
    • knuckles
    • knucks
    • lance
    • legislative branch
    • light arm
    • local post office
    • long sleeve
    • missile
    • munition
    • pike
    • post office
    • projectile
    • raglan sleeve
    • re-arm
    • rearm
    • shaft
    • shirtsleeve
    • short sleeve
    • slasher
    • sling
    • spear
    • steel
    • stun baton
    • stun gun
    • sword
    • tomahawk
    • W.M.D.
    • weapon of mass destruction
    • WMD
    • writing arm

Hypernyms for the word arm

    • armrest
    • arms
    • bar
    • cloth covering
    • division
    • furnish
    • implements of war
    • instrument
    • limb
    • munition
    • projection
    • protuberance
    • provide
    • render
    • supply
    • weaponry
    • weapons system

Antonyms for the word arm

    • demilitarise
    • demilitarize
    • disarm

See other words

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    • The definition of kelime
    • The interpretation of the word kaynak
    • What is meant by kaya
    • The lexical meaning isim
    • The dictionary meaning of the word insan
    • The grammatical meaning of the word ev
    • Meaning of the word durum
    • Literal and figurative meaning of the word anne
    • The origin of the word aru
    • Synonym for the word asi
    • Antonyms for the word ava
    • Homonyms for the word dinosaurus
    • Hyponyms for the word ema
    • Holonyms for the word enne
    • Hypernyms for the word euro
    • Proverbs and sayings for the word hammas
    • Translation of the word in other languages hind

What does the word arms mean?

1 : a human upper limb especially : the part between the shoulder and the wrist. 2 : something like or corresponding to an arm: such as. a : the forelimb of a vertebrate. b : a limb of an invertebrate animal.

What is the meaning Ofarms?

the official heraldic symbols of a family, state, etc, including a shield with distinctive devices, and often supports, a crest, or other insignia. bear arms. to carry weapons. to serve in the armed forces. to have a coat of arms.

What are synonyms for arms?

bough

  • arm.
  • fork.
  • limb.
  • offshoot.
  • shoot.
  • sprig.
  • sucker.

What’s the opposite of ARM?

What is the opposite of arm?

incompetence weakness
uselessness incompetency
inefficacy helplessness
inadequacy ineffectualness
ineffectuality inutility

What is another name for upper arm?

The arm proper (brachium), sometimes called the upper arm, the region between the shoulder and the elbow, is composed of the humerus with the elbow joint at its distal end.

What is the bone of the upper arm?

Your arm is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus) and two forearm bones (the ulna and the radius).

What is the scientific word for arms?

In human anatomy, the arm is the part of the upper limb between the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and the elbow joint. In common usage, the arm extends through the hand. The Latin term brachium may refer to either the arm as a whole or to the upper arm on its own.

What is another name for triceps?

Triceps Synonyms – WordHippo Thesaurus….What is another word for triceps?

arm hand
limb biceps
upper arm upper limb

What is the tricep Brachii?

The triceps brachii is the muscle that runs down the back of the humerus, which is the long bone of the upper arm, and ends at the top of the ulna, which is the long bone of the forearm. The triceps brachii gets its name because it contains three muscle ‘heads’ or points of origin.

Which are the three parts of the arm?

The upper extremity or arm is a functional unit of the upper body. It consists of three sections, the upper arm, forearm, and hand.

What is the function of arm?

The function of the human arm is to reach out and grab anything, from food to tools to hand-holds, that may be helpful.

What is the underarm muscle called?

The pectoral fascia is a thin layer of tissue over the pectoralis major, extending toward the latissimus dorsi muscle on the back. Along with the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, the subclavius muscle forms the axilla or armpit.

Which arm is closest to the heart?

left arm

Why is it better to take BP in left arm?

A significant difference in the pressure recorded in the right and left arms can signal circulatory problems that may lead to stroke, peripheral artery disease, or other cardiovascular problems. British researchers looked at the results of 20 studies in which blood pressure was measured in both arms.

Is left arm blood pressure more accurate?

Generally, a small difference in blood pressure readings between arms isn’t a health concern. However, a difference of more than 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for either your top number (systolic pressure) or bottom number (diastolic) may be a sign of blocked arteries in the arms, diabetes or other health problem.

Why do I have poor circulation in my left arm?

One cause of poor circulation can be sleeping in an awkward position. Other causes are more serious. For example, poor circulation can be a sign of blood or heart disease and diabetes. Lifestyle factors can also affect circulation, such as smoking and having excess weight.

Can anxiety cause tingling left arm?

It is common for anxiety to cause feelings of numbness and tingling. This can occur almost anywhere on the body but is most commonly felt on the face, hands, arms, feet and legs. This is caused by the blood rushing to the most important parts of the body that can aide fight or flight.

How do I get rid of numbness in my arm?

Treatments

  • If you tend to have numb arms in the morning, try adjusting your sleeping position. A wedge pillow can keep you from sleeping on your arms.
  • When your arm becomes numb during the day, try performing some simple movements to improve circulation.
  • Avoid repetitive shoulder, arm, wrist, and finger movements.

Why does my left arm feel heavy and weak?

Usual causes of arm weakness include injury to, or infection of, the arm; muscle wasting, such as from certain muscular disorders or from lack of use; nerve damage or compression at the vertebral column; or certain hereditary conditions.

What does a pinched nerve in the arm feel like?

Pinched nerve signs and symptoms include: Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve. Sharp, aching or burning pain, which may radiate outward. Tingling, pins and needles sensations (paresthesia)

Can anxiety cause left arm pain?

If you’re experiencing left arm pain, anxiety could be the cause. Anxiety can cause muscles in the arm to become tense, and that tension could lead to pain. Although muscle tension — sometimes the result of anxiety — is the most likely source of arm pain, it is not the only possible cause.

What does heart related arm pain feel like?

The discomfort may feel like heaviness, fullness, squeezing, or pain. Discomfort in the upper body parts such as the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. This may feel like pain or general discomfort.

When should I be concerned about arm pain?

Seek emergency treatment if you have: Arm, shoulder or back pain that comes on suddenly, is unusually severe, or is accompanied by pressure, fullness or squeezing in your chest (this may signal a heart attack)

What does angina arm pain feel like?

Angina symptoms include chest pain and discomfort, possibly described as pressure, squeezing, burning or fullness. You may also have pain in your arms, neck, jaw, shoulder or back.

Should I go to the ER for left arm pain?

In men, the left arm pain will move from the shoulder down the left arm or up to the chin. If the pain comes on suddenly and is unusually severe, or is accompanied by pressure or squeezing in the chest, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Why is my left arm aching?

A pain in your left arm could mean you have a bone or joint injury, a pinched nerve, or a problem with your heart. Read on to learn more about the causes of left arm pain and what symptoms could signal a serious problem.

What is left arm pain a symptom of?

The causes of left arm pain can vary. The most well known of these is a heart attack. In this case, the arm pain may be accompanied by pain or a tightening sensation in your chest, pain in your back, neck, shoulder or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness or fatigue. Left arm pain can also be caused by angina.

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