Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Salve?

\Sal"ve\, interj. [L., hail, God save you, imperat. of salvere to be well. Cf. {Salvo} a volley.] Hail!
\Sal"ve\ (? or ?), v. t. To say ``Salve'' to; to greet; to salute. [Obs.] By this that stranger knight in presence came, And goodly salved them. --Spenser.
\Salve\ (?; 277), n. [AS. sealf ointment; akin to LG. salwe, D. zalve, zalf, OHG. salba, Dan. salve, Sw. salfva, Goth. salb[=o]n to anoint, and probably to Gr. (Hesychius) ? oil, ? butter, Skr. sarpis clarified butter. [root]155, 291.] 1. An adhesive composition or substance to be applied to wounds or sores; a healing ointment. --Chaucer. 2. A soothing remedy or antidote. Counsel or consolation we may bring. Salve to thy sores. --Milton. {Salve bug} (Zo["o]l.), a large, stout isopod crustacean ({[AE]ga psora}), parasitic on the halibut and codfish, -- used by fishermen in the preparation of a salve. It becomes about two inches in length.
\Salve\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Salved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Salving}.] [AS. sealfian to anoint. See {Salve}, n.] 1. To heal by applications or medicaments; to cure by remedial treatment; to apply salve to; as, to salve a wound. --Shak. 2. To heal; to remedy; to cure; to make good; to soothe, as with an ointment, especially by some device, trick, or quibble; to gloss over. But Ebranck salved both their infamies With noble deeds. --Spenser. What may we do, then, to salve this seeming inconsistence? --Milton.
\Salve\, v. t. & i. [See {Salvage}] To save, as a ship or goods, from the perils of the sea. [Recent]