I. ˈsav, ˈsaa(ə)v, ˈsaiv, ˈsȧv, Brit sometimes ˈsalv noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English salf, salve, from Old English sealf; akin to Old Saxon salƀa salve, Middle Low German & Middle Dutch salve, Old High German salba salve, Greek elpos oil, fat, elphos butter, olpē oil flask, Sanskrit sarpis melted butter, ghee, Albanian gjalpë butter
1. : an unctuous adhesive composition or substance to be applied to wounds or sores : a healing ointment
2. : something likened to a salve: as
a. : something (as an influence, agency, or statement) remedial, comforting, or soothing
a salve for sin
a salve to wounded feelings
b. : something (as praise or flattery) applied or laid on like a salve
3. : any ointment or cerate prepared with a base (as of a fat, oil, wool fat, petrolatum, wax, or resin)
a blistering or antiseptic salve
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English salven, from Old English sealfian; akin to Old Saxon salƀon to salve, anoint, Middle Low German & Middle Dutch salven, Old High German & Gothic salbōn; denominative from the root of English salve (I)
1. archaic : to apply salve to (as a wound) : anoint
2. : to heal, cure, or soothe (as a disease, sin, grief) with or as if with a salve : to provide a remedy or consolation for
the character of the work did not salve the Prologue's sting — H.O.Taylor
3. obsolete : to cover up (as something festering, ugly, or disgraceful) : gloss over
4. : quiet , allay , assuage
did not exacerbate her emotional unfulfillment … but salved it by writing historical novels — Times Literary Supplement
give him a raise in salary to salve his feelings — Upton Sinclair
III. ˈsa(l)v, -aa(ə)-, -ai-, -ȧ- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin salvare, from Late Latin, to save — more at save
1. obsolete : to provide a hypothesis or offer a solution or explanation of : solve , resolve
what may we do then to salve this seeming inconsistence — John Milton
2. obsolete : to make (as a doctrine) capable of a rational or reasonable explanation : justify with arguments : support
lest my liking might too sudden seem, I would have salved it with a longer treatise — Shakespeare
3. obsolete : to save or maintain intact (as one's honor or an oath) : preserve the credit or integrity of : safeguard
to salve his credit … still will be tempting him who foils him still — John Milton
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French — more at salvo
obsolete : salvo
V. ˈsalv transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: back-formation from salvage (II)
: to save (as a ship or its cargo) from destruction or loss : salvage
a lifeboat was sent to the wreck … and it spent the morning salving bedding, crockery, and a small amount of clothing — J.H.Marsh
the campaign for salving and processing kitchen scraps — V.C.Fishwick