noun
- any medicinal ointment applied to wounds, skin irritations, burns, etc. for purposes of soothing or healing
- anything that soothes or heals; balm: a salve for one's conscience
Origin:
ME < OE sealf, akin to Ger salbe < IE base *selp-, fat, butter > Sans sarpis-, melted butter
transitive verb salved, salving
- Archaic to apply salve to (wounds, etc.)
- to soothe; smooth over; assuage
Origin:
ME salven < OE sealfian < the n.