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 /

verb

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

salve

²

/ sɑːv; sælv /

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

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

C18: from salvage

Origin of salve²

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

Example Sentences

Allowing restaurants to sell cocktails-to-go would be a much-needed salve for the beleaguered industry

From Eater

I have tried CBD salves and THC spliffs, no beer and way too much of it.

From Outside Online

Since 1919, Wahl’s products have expanded to include personal massagers, pet groomers, and other hair care salves, shampoos, and lotions.

From Popular-Science

This aromatic butternut squash and pear soup is a nourishing salve for chilly days

From Washington Post

Washington needed to score to salve its nightmarish start and set up a second-half comeback.

From Washington Post

Its readership expands in times when more of us need its particular brand of salve.

From The Daily Beast

His only salve has been counting down the days until graduation.

From The Daily Beast

It was comforting, a temporary salve, but we both agreed I should see someone more regularly in New York.

From The Daily Beast

Then came remedies: the powder, the salve, the wondrous elixir.

From The Daily Beast

With it, we can help salve the seething anger that the fearful mainstream senses in the streets.

From The Daily Beast

For one minute he even contemplated holding the two up and taking enough to salve his hurt pride and his endangered reputation.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a device by which thousands have tried to salve their consciences, and to try to find an excuse for wrong-doing.

From Project Gutenberg

How eager they will then be to prove their confidence by exaggerated devotion, to salve their guilty conscience!

From Project Gutenberg

Well, I'll make the salve an' do the talkin'; Giz'll sort o' whoop things up a bit and Lut'er'll git cured.

From Project Gutenberg

Still, if trapped thus, they salve their consciences with the remark: The Christian had the sin, and I had the good dinner.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• balm
• lotion