salve

¹

[ sav, sahv ]

noun

1. a medicinal ointment for healing or relieving wounds and sores.
2. anything that soothes, mollifies, or relieves.

verb (used with object)

, salved, salv·ing.

1. to soothe with or as if with salve; assuage:

   to salve one's conscience.

   Synonyms: mollify, alleviate, ease

salve

²

[ salv ]

verb (used with or without object)

, salved, salv·ing.

1. to save from loss or destruction; to salvage.

salve

³

[ sal-vee; Latin sahl-wey ]

interjection

1. hail!

salve

¹

/ sælv; sɑːv /

noun

1. an ointment for wounds, sores, etc
2. anything that heals or soothes

verb

1. to apply salve to (a wound, sore, etc)
2. to soothe, comfort, or appease

salve

²

/ sælv /

verb

1. a less common word for salvage
2. an archaic word for save 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of salve¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun salve, salwe, salf(e), Old English sealf, salf; cognate with German Salbe “ointment, salve,” Sanskrit sarpís “melted butter, fat”; verb derivative of the noun

Origin of salve²

First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from salvage

Origin of salve³

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin salvē! literally, “be in good health!”; salute

Word History and Origins

Origin of salve¹

Old English sealf; related to Old High German salba, Greek elpos oil, Sanskrit sarpis lard

Origin of salve²

C18: from salvage

Example Sentences

In a place where food can be pricey, it’s a budget-conscious salve to a grumbling stomach and a quick stop-off in between a busy sightseeing itinerary.

From Salon

Any spectators feeling short-changed would have been salved by Hatton v Flint, a high-energy and bruising encounter.

From BBC

"It has been a salve to our broken hearts," she said.

From BBC

Which is to say, “Shrinking” has settled into the salving vibe of a hangout comedy, what with Jimmy’s workplace and neighborhood families of choice comfortably overlapping without sacrificing the therapeutic spaces that make it distinct.

From Salon

But he's not president anymore and it's unclear how that will help him do anything but salve his ego.

From Salon

Related Words

• balm
• lotion